Sri Lanka refuses to play Test cricket in Pakistan, to play 3 ODIs instead

[Abdullah719]

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) have agreed to send their team to Pakistan for a Test match in Lahore later this year, ARY News reported on Saturday.

The Sri Lanka Cricket’s security delegation gave a positive feedback after their visit to Lahore and Karachi earlier this month. During their visit, head of the delegation Mr. Silva expressed his satisfaction over the security plan.

“We had a useful session with IG Sindh and Home Secretary. They have some strong plans which indeed have impressed us,” he said.

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had sent an invitation to Sri Lanka to play the upcoming two-match Test series in their home-ground instead of at a neutral venue. However, the Sri Lanka cricket have agreed to play one Test in Pakistan while the second Test will be played in Dubai.

Pakistan will witness Test cricket after the gap of almost 10 years. Pakistan last played a Test at their home ground against the same opposition in 2009.

http://www.dailytimeskp.com/latest/?p=13826

 

[ManFan]

Perfect time for Azhar, Shafiq, and Sarfraz to retire.

 

[Mueez]

Perfect time for Azhar, Shafiq, and Sarfraz to retire.

Give Misbah a chance to play his best format in his country.
[MENTION=135038]Major[/MENTION] [MENTION=134608]Hawkeye[/MENTION]

 

[Hitman]

Good news. Really delighted for fans in Pakistan. I just wish it were a 3 Test series with all the matches played in Pakistan.

 

[gani999]

Brave decision by the Lankans. They have shown real character in deciding to tour a country where their team almost got massacred. Pakistan owes them a lot.

I hope this brings back international cricket to Pakistan. If this gesture by the Lankans won't, then nothing else will.

 

[MenInG]

Brave decision by the Lankans. They have shown real character in deciding to tour a country where their team almost got massacred. Pakistan owes them a lot.

I hope this brings back international cricket to Pakistan. If this gesture by the Lankans won't, then nothing else will.

Very true - brave decision and one based on commonsense.

 

[Hitman]

It’s so sad that Pak fans have been deprived of cricket in their country since 2009 for no fault of theirs (Pak fans). They are just as cricket crazy as Indian, Sri Lankan and Bangladeshi fans. I have always enjoyed watching matches held in Pakistan. The atmosphere, the passionate fans, everything was so enjoyable.

But this is just a baby step. Other cricket boards should seriously think about sending their teams to Pakistan.

 

[Justcrazy]

It will be big move for Pakistan Cricket. Lot of players will play there first game in Home.

 

[Gabbar Singh]

Great news for cricket in Pakistan as it’s fans.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

This is great news. Will definitely be better than UAE grounds where the number of crows usually exceeds the number of spectators.

 

[Prince of Pakistan]

Have a bad feeling that something might happen and we will be in the UAE again.

Hopefully this goes through as we really need it as a nation. A successful test held in PK will be a massive statement.

 

[Markhor]

This is great news. Will definitely be better than UAE grounds where the number of crows usually exceeds the number of spectators.

Crowd should be decent as this would be the first home Test in 10 years, but let's not forget pre-2009 that Test attendances were as bad as UAE in Pakistan.

Sehwag scored his famous 300 in the first Ind-Pak Test series in 15 years in front of a crowd populated more by security guards than actual fans.

 

[Thephenom]

I have great respect for the Sri Lanka team, they’ve shown more balls then the big 4 of England, New Zealand, Australia and India put together!

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Crowd should be decent as this would be the first home Test in 10 years, but let's not forget pre-2009 that Test attendances were as bad as UAE in Pakistan.

Sehwag scored his famous 300 in the first Ind-Pak Test series in 15 years in front of a crowd populated more by security guards than actual fans.

Actually yes. But I think tests should be restricted to Lahore, Karachi where crowds should be decent for tests as well. Anyway it's still a better move than playing in UAE.

 

[Hitman]

Have a bad feeling that something might happen and we will be in the UAE again.

Hopefully this goes through as we really need it as a nation. A successful test held in PK will be a massive statement.

Nothing bad will happen. Your Govt. isn’t foolish enough to make the same mistake again.

 

[Amjid Javed]

Good news, 1 test in pakistan is better than nothing. SL will start series as favourites as our test side is poor right now.

 

[Savak]

The true friends of Pakistan Cricket. Stood by our side during our darkest times. Must never be forgotten

 

[sweep_shot]

Very good news.

Those fantastic stadiums in Pakistan deserve international cricket.

 

[barah_admi]

what of the ODI series?

 

[Rellu_Katta]

Sri Lanka has refused to play Test matches in Pakistan, which were scheduled to be held in coming months. However, the Sri Lankan cricket board has assured to send their team to Pakistan for One Day Internationals (ODIs).

According to media reports, the Sri Lankan Cricket Board informed the Pakistan Cricket Board about its decision, however, Sri Lanka is planning to play three ODIs in Pakistan.


Weeks ago, a security delegation of the Sri Lankan Cricket visited Pakistan, the delegation visited the stadiums in Karachi and Lahore and inspected the security arrangements in the country. The delegation has given a positive report to the Sri Lankan cricket board.

International cricket in Pakistan came to a standstill, after the 2009 Lahore attack. However, since 2015, the country has seen sporadic return of international cricket when it hosted limited-overs games featuring Zimbabwe (2015), World XI (2017), Sri Lanka (2017) and West Indies (2018) apart from a number of Pakistan Super League (PSL) matches.

Source

https://www.brecorder.com/2019/08/22...s-in-pakistan/

 

[CrIc_Mystique]

Good news for pak cric fans....hopefully peace will return and more teams will tour...and inspire local youngsters....good on SL to decide to tour.....irrespective of the result of the test match-this match will be historic in itself, i hope the crowds turn out in good numbers to support TC back in pak.....good luck from an indian fan

 

[Mueez]

Good news for pak cric fans....hopefully peace will return and more teams will tour...and inspire local youngsters....good on SL to decide to tour.....irrespective of the result of the test match-this match will be historic in itself, i hope the crowds turn out in good numbers to support TC back in pak.....good luck from an indian fan

Thank you for your kind wishes for Pakistan.

 

[DrSchultz]

So they've refused now.

 

[sweep_shot]

So they've refused now.

They are still playing ODI games. Not 100% refusal.

 

[Abdullah719]

Sri Lanka to return to Pakistan for three short-form matches

COLOMBO — Sri Lanka will return to Pakistan after a nearly two-year absence for three short-form cricket games later this year, the sports minister said Thursday.

"We are not in a position to send the team to Pakistan to play the two Tests, but we will be in Pakistan for about eight days to play the ODIs or the T20 matches," Harin Fernando told reporters in Colombo.

No dates were announced, but the minister said the games would be scheduled for later this year.

Citing safety fears, Fernando said two Tests could instead be played in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), where Pakistan has held many of its home series.

International teams have stayed away from Pakistan over security concerns.

In October 2017, Sri Lanka played a T20 match in Lahore for the first time since a terror attack near the same venue in March 2009.

That attack left eight people dead and seven Sri Lanka players and staff injured. — AFP

http://saudigazette.com.sa/article/575220

 

[Nov15]

Disappointing. Doesn’t appear any other team will agree to play tests in Pakistan.

 

[Sunny_majoka]

It seems they don't want to cost test series with absence of top players ( who have the right to pull out).
But they will play Odis with their B team

 

[Junaids]

So move the Test to South Africa.

Don’t give their spinners and batsmen the advantage of playing in the UAE!

 

[jaisan]

So move the Test to South Africa.

Don’t give their spinners and batsmen the advantage of playing in the UAE!

Where was the last time had Sri Lanka won the test series?

South Africa

 

[MenInG]

Good move by SL - their players need to be mentally assured before playing Tests in Pakistan.

 

[Last Monetarist]

Good sensible move, a couple of ODIs in Lahore to start and then an ODI and a couple of T20s in Karachi would be ideal. I don't think we have hosted a full ODI series in Pakistan since the Zimbabwe series in 2015. The local crowds would be more enthusiastic about attending limited overs matches as well.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

So move the Test to South Africa.

Don’t give their spinners and batsmen the advantage of playing in the UAE!

Except you, I don't think anybody wants Pakistan to play in SA, least of all the PCB. PAK lost 3-0 to the same side that was beaten 2-0 in those conditions.

 

[DrSchultz]

Fact is, that the Sri Lankan team will make mincemeat out of our mental midgets in the UAE.

 

[Sir-fraz]

not surprised. 2 tests will take atleasy 2.5-3 weeks

while 3 odis can be played within a week.

 

[topspin]

So move the Test to South Africa.

Don’t give their spinners and batsmen the advantage of playing in the UAE!

I actually like the idea but Sri Lanka are the better side and I would back their test team to beat Pakistan in South Africa (as well as in UAE).

 

[Amjid Javed]

Good move to play LOI games in pakistan and might be a case that test still have to be played in UAE. If this is same for all touring teams then good, atleast we get some cricket in pakistan.