‘Sri Lankan team expected to visit Pakistan this year’

ISLAMABAD: With the security situation improving in the country, Pakistani cricket fans may soon have something to cheer for: the Sri Lankan cricket team is expected to tour here at the end of this year.
 Talking to media, a Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) official confirmed that the Sri Lankan cricket team is expected to tour Pakistan in November or December.

 “Our Sri Lankan counterpart has expressed willingness in sending their team to Pakistan as the security situation is improving in the country,” he said.
 The official said that the Sri Lankan team would be playing ODIs and T20Is against Pakistan which would be staged only in Lahore.
 “The world had witnessed the type of security that was provided in the high-profile Pakistan Super League (PSL) final at Lahore. PSL final had proved a great breakthrough in reviving international cricket in Pakistan,” he said.

 While talking to Urdu newspaper, Khan said that Sri Lankan officials called security arrangements for PSL final in Lahore satisfactory.
 The PCB Chairman further added that during ICC meeting, many member states praised the improved security condition in Pakistan as their officials observed the PSL final’s security arrangements first hand.
 “Sri Lanka and Bangladesh are also interested in sending their junior teams in Pakistan,” he said.
 The official added that a World XI team would also be touring Pakistan in September, which would include foreign players from Australia, West Indies, Sri Lanka and South Africa.

 The tour of World XI is linked to permission from the federal government but PCB chairman said that 90 percent of procedure has been completed in this regard.