Touchdown Islamabad': Sri Lanka arrive for first Tests in Pakistan since 2009 terror attack
The Sri Lanka cricket squad contacted down in Islamabad on Monday for their first Test visit in quite a while following the fatal 2009 assault in their group that dove Pakistan into wearing disengagement.
"Touchdown Islamabad," tweeted the Pakistan Cricket Board, alongside a video demonstrating the Sri Lankan side's appearance.
The squad was given a warm-gathering at the group lodging, in front of the primary Test in their two-coordinate arrangement in Rawalpindi, beginning Wednesday. It marks a noteworthy achievement for Pakistan, which has not facilitated any Test cricket since the fear assault on the Sri Lankan group transport in Lahore in 2009, which killed eight individuals and harmed a few players.
Sri Lanka headed out to Pakistan to play three ODIs and three T20 coordinates in September and October, however, 10 senior players remained at home referring to security concerns. The Test squad that landed on Monday, however, is full-quality with quick bowler Suranga Lakmal a late withdrawal with dengue.
"This is my first visit to Pakistan," said Sri Lanka chief Dimuth Karunaratne, who quit the group's ongoing restricted overs voyage through Pakistan.
"After the 2009 episodes players were terrified to visit Pakistan yet over the most recent two years or so Sri Lanka and different groups have visited Pakistan."
He included: "We need to play great cricket in Pakistan and expectation they give us some great security."
The 2009 assault hammered the entryway shut on worldwide donning installations in the cricket-adoring country as outside groups wouldn't visit over security fears. Pakistan has been compelled to play home matches on the unbiased ground in the UAE, bringing about monetary misfortunes and preventing an age from claiming Pakistan fans the opportunity to see their players on home soil.
PCB CEO Waseem Khan called the Sri Lanka group's appearance a "memorable event".
"Pakistan's misfortunes due to non-facilitating of global cricket have been considerable," Waseem revealed to Agence France-Presse.
"Pakistan cricket supporters have been denied the chance to see their legends play live in our national arenas."
Zimbabwe turned into the primary group to play in Pakistan in 2015, clearing the wave for a sprinkling of Twenty20 matches from that point forward.
In any case, Test matches - thought about the zenith of universal cricket - have as of not long ago stayed missing. The primary Test begins in Rawalpindi - where Pakistan's military is headquartered - on Wednesday and the second is in Karachi from December 19.
While the vast majority of the emphasis is on the visitors, it denotes a huge achievement for the Pakistan squad, as well.
None of the Misbah-ul-Haq's squad, including captain Azhar Ali (75 Tests) and Asad Shafiq (71), has played a Test at home.
"I am glad Test cricket has, at last, come back to Pakistan," said fan Ashfaq Ahmed, 48.
"Cricket in Pakistan is kicking the bucket and our children aren't as sharp toward the game as we were once. In any case, one can't accuse the more youthful ages since they haven't seen their group playing in Pakistan."
The PCB is currently planning to make something happen on account of an emotional improvement in security as of late, after a rush of crackdowns on aggressors the nation over.
The arrival of worldwide games and Pakistan Super Alliance matches - just as in the background tact - are at last delivering profits, as indicated by Waseem.
"The eight [PSL] coordinates in Karachi prior this year ... were eye-openers for the 43 remote cricketers who returned as our envoys," he said.
The arrangement, the second for the two groups in the progressing Scene Test Title, has a captivating subplot with recently delegated mentor Mickey Arthur facing Pakistan partner Misbah.
Arthur was Pakistan mentor until August when he was sacked by the PCB, of which Misbah is its main selectors, following a lackluster display in the Cricket World Cup in Britain.
The South African, 51, just took up his new post a week ago and will hope to heap more wretchedness on a Pakistan side as yet reeling from a mortifying 2-0 Test whipping in Australia which drove them down to eighth in the ICC rankings.
Andy Pycroft will lead the Playing Control Group for the opening Test in Rawalpindi from 11 to 15 December, which will likewise incorporate Michael Gough and Richard Kettleborough as the on-field umpires. Richard Illingworth and Shozab Raza will be the third and fourth umpires separately.
For the second Test in Karachi — set to be held somewhere in the range of 19 and 23 December — Jeff Crowe will be the match ref, while on-field umpiring obligations will be shared between Bruce Oxenford and Joel Wilson. Gregory Brathwaite will be in the third umpire's container and Ahsan Raza will be the fourth umpire.
Gough and Wilson will come back to Pakistan in the wake of performing on-field umpires' obligations when Sri Lanka last played white-ball coordinates by umpiring in the Karachi ODIs.
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