Sri Lanka Cricket confirm that they will play the 3rd T20I on 29th October in Lahore

[MenInG]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Sri Lanka Cricket have confirmed that they will play the 3rd T20I on 29th October in Lahore <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cricket?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Cricket</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PakvsSL?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PakvsSL</a></p>— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) <a href="https://twitter.com/Saj_PakPassion/status/919969277729492993?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 16, 2017</a></blockquote>
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Detailed statement from SLC, for info

Sri Lanka Cricket confirms Pakistan T20 to be played in Lahore
Colombo, 16th October 2017

Sri Lanka Cricket today (16) confirmed its commitment to play the third and final T20 game of the ongoing Sri Lanka tour of Pakistan at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, Pakistan on the 29th of October.

SLC have over the past two months conducted a thorough evaluation with the assistance of the Government of Sri Lanka, the Government of Pakistan, the PCB and independent Security experts and The Executive Committee today (16), evaluated the reports obtained together with the recommendation of the International Cricket Council – which successfully conducted the Independence Cup tournament in Lahore fielding a World XI Team – and having been fully satisfied with the stringent security measures in place, the SLC ExCo unanimously decided to play the 3rd T20 in Lahore on the 29th October.

Accordingly, the Selections Committee of SLC will finalize a squad of 22 by the 17th October, and announce the final 15 on the 20th October.

SLC President, Hon. Thilanga Sumathipala who will accompany the team to Lahore, extended his best wishes to PCB Chairman Najam Sethi and his board on the occasion of this historic game, which is set to bring back bilateral cricket to Pakistan.

 

[Arham_PakFan]

Good to hear although I hope that it isn’t entirely a 3rd string team.

 

[ExpressPacer]

Amazing! Love how Lahore is only a hour drive away and I can go watch International games every once in a while.

 

[Gabbar Singh]

Excellent news.

 

[Enigma_]

Hopefully it isn't a 3rd string team but I am glad that the Sri Lankan cricket board stayed true to the agreement.

 

[Rana]

Thats good

 

[another drop catch]

Guys Give some credit to najam sethi too

 

[Gabbar Singh]

Guys Give some credit to najam sethi too

He’s certainly hit the ground running since taking over as head of the PCB. Hope it continues.

 

[ExplicitAI]

International cricket is slowly making its way back into Pakistan, we're on our way up. Soon we'll hit the top 4 rankings and eventually we can win the 2019 WC Inshallah.

 

[msb314]

Very happy to see this but hope a full strength and committed SL side play.

 

[MenInG]

Abu Dhabi: Sri Lanka batting coach Hashan Tillakaratne has welcomed Sri Lanka Cricket Board’s decision to go to Lahore for the scheduled third Twenty20 International later this month.

Sri Lanka Cricket board (SLC) had, on Monday, kept their word despite a signed petition from 40 players to move the last T20 to a neutral venue citing security concerns.

Tillakaratne said it was the SLC’s duty to come to the aid of Pakistan, who along with India had helped their country during the 1996 World Cup.

Sri Lanka were in a similar fix ahead of the mega event, when, following a bomb blast, Australia and West Indies refused to tour the country over security concerns. A joint move from India and Pakistan saw them sending a combined team for a friendly match against Sri Lanka, which soothed the nerves of other teams. Though Australia and West Indies still gave a walkover in their World Cup matches scheduled in Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe and Kenya played their matches in Colombo. “SLC has already announced that we will tour Lahore. In 1996, Pakistan helped us by forming the combined India-Pakistan side, and now it is our duty to help them,” said Tillakaratne.

With the T20 taking place on October 29, Pakistan are looking to revive international cricket back home after they left their shores following the Sri Lanka team bus attack at Lahore in March 2009.


The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had successfully hosted three T20Is against a World XI squad last month in Lahore and were upbeat about playing one match in Lahore despite initial fears.

Sri Lanka are currently trailing 2-0 in the five-match ODI series being held in the UAE and are facing a must-win situation going into the third ODI in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday.

Though their batting has repeatedly let the team down, Tillakaratne was confident that his team can bounce back. “I’m very positive. We need to win all three games and rectify our mistakes. Skill and everything is there; batters need to get their act together,” said Tillakaratne, who accepted that batting collapse was a worry and they are trying everything in their powers to sort it out.

“It has been very difficult and disappointing. I’m sure the boys are also aware of the situation. We have been practicing for leg-spinner and hopefully, we will put up a good show in the third game.”

http://gulfnews.com/sport/cricket/pakistan/it-s-our-duty-to-help-pakistan-tillakaratne-1.2107780

 

[Raja Sab]

Amazing! Love how Lahore is only a hour drive away and I can go watch International games every once in a while.

Islamabad is 4-5 hours when I last visited Pakistan

 

[ExpressPacer]

Islamabad is 4-5 hours when I last visited Pakistan

I meant to write a "3 hour drive", which explains the use of 'a' instead of 'an'.

Sorry, a typo.

 

[Abdullah719]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Mickey Arthur to Sri Lankan squad "Come and enjoy Lahore is my message. The people of Pakistan & the fans are going to enjoy your presence"</p>— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) <a href="https://twitter.com/Saj_PakPassion/status/920378566054948864?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 17, 2017</a></blockquote>
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[hadi123]

LAHORE: Former Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq and former Test all-rounder Abdul Razzaq have welcomed the decision of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) of sending its national team of playing one T20 match against Pakistan later this month in Lahore.

Talking to reporters here on Tuesday, Misbah said the decision would help to reopen the doors for international cricket in Pakistan.

Misbah said the credit for the success should be given to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

He said after welcoming Zimbabwe and later the team of the World XI, he also welcomes the Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore and now the West Indies would also come next month as per schedule.

Misbah said the people of Pakistan love the sport of cricket and the country was a safe place for international cricket. He added the way Pakistani spectators thronged the stadium to watch the matches against Zimbabwe and the World XI showed their passion for the game.

He said Pakistani spectators would offer the same kind of gesture to the Sri Lankan cricket team, which had been the victim of a lethal terror attack in Lahore in March 2009.

Meanwhile, Abdul Razzaq said it was a great achievement that Sri Lanka had decided to come to Lahore. However, he added, the real return of international cricket to Pakistan would be when India visits Pakistan to play a series here.

Misbah said the resumption of international cricket in Pakistan would promote the game of cricket in the country.

On Monday, Sri Lanka Cricket announced its decision of sending their team to Lahore to play the last T20 of the three-match series against Pakistan on Oct 29.

Currently, the two teams are engaged in a five-match ODI series in the UAE.

https://www.dawn.com/news/1364460/misbah-razzaq-welcome-slc-decision

 

[MenInG]

All cricket fans know that the Sri Lanka cricket team is to travel to Lahore Pakistan to play the final T/20 international game against Pakistan but all are also concerned about the security situation there.

True, a World XI played a few T/20 games against Pakistan in Lahore that ended without any incidents. That was when the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) gave the world assurances of incident free tours to Lahore. But a security assessment was made by a private security agent called Rex Dickson who is an expert on studying security situations around the world. Thus the green light was given to conduct the series of matches for the World XI.

Similarly, the Sri Lanka Cricketers' Association (SLCA) has written a letter to Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) requesting them to carry out a similar independent assessment using professional services of an agent about the situation in Lahore.

Speaking to Ceylon Today Ken de Alwis, General Secretary of SLCA said that the players should go and he was confident the security would be perfect before the Sri Lanka National team sets foot there.

"We have written a letter requesting Sri Lanka Cricket to conduct an independent assessment of the security situation in Pakistan. Not anyone can go there to do security assessments but we have to get professional personnel to do this job and give us the clearance to go. Otherwise, who will take the responsibility if something goes wrong," added De Alwis.

"The security assessment given before the World XI team went was perfect and SLC too should follow the same pattern as the situation may be different with every tour," observed De Alwis.

"Pakistan cricket needs support to carry on playing the game in their own country. The West Indies are also planning a trip to Pakistan to play a series of matches but importantly the security situation should be assessed with every tour," noted De Alwis.

Meanwhile, SLC has confirmed that the Sri Lanka team will tour Pakistan with a final team selected by the selection committee.

It is reported that the chairman of the selection committee Graeme Labrooy has stated that all those selected players should go as planned. They will pick the best available team although several young players who are knocking at the door to enter the national team are eagerly waiting to be selected.

Already Upul Tharanga has indicated that he is not willing to go there due to security concerns. This has forced SLC to negotiate with the senior players before the final team is announced.

https://ceylontoday.lk/print20170401CT20170630.php?id=32464