Sri Lanka may play T20 in Lahore to end Pakistan tour
Karachi, Sep 9 (PTI) The Sri Lankan Cricket Board has agreed to play one Twenty20 international in Lahore on October 29 but only if the World Eleven tour of Pakistan goes off successfully next week.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) today released the itinerary for the home series against Sri Lanka which will begin in the United Arab Emirates from September 28.
The series includes two Test matches including a day and night one in Dubai, five One-day internationals and three T20 matches the last of which is scheduled in Lahore subject to security issues.
The PCB said in its statement that the match against Sri Lanka would be a continuation of the return of international cricket to Pakistan following the World Eleven tour to Lahore next week.
Militants had attacked the Sri Lankan team in Lahore in March 2009 while going to the Gaddafi stadium leading to international teams refusing to tour Pakistan since then due to security concerns.
The PCB is also in the final stage of negotiations with the West Indies Cricket Board for a three-match T20 series in Lahore in November.
The World Eleven, led by South African captain Faf du Plessis and coached by Andy Flower, is due to reach Lahore on Sunday night from Dubai.
After a visit by an ICC security team to Lahore this week the PCB has finalised a six-layer security plan for the World Eleven visit which will cover them from their hotel to the Gaddafi stadium.
Hundreds of policemen, paramilitary and military personnel will be on security duty for the series and from Sunday the roads leading to the Gaddafi stadium will be closed for the general public.
Due to security reasons the PCB has made it clear that no player or official of the World Eleven would be available for one to one interview sessions apart from the routine pre and post match conferences