LAHORE: Two former Pakistani women cricketers have welcomed Sri Lankan team for their tour to the country.

Ex-bowler Asmavia Iqbal said the visiting of the Sri Lankan team to Pakistan brought the message of revival of international cricket in the country.

“Pakistanis are cricket-loving people,” she said.

Marina Iqbal said she was over the moon on the Sri Lankan team’s visiting the country.

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“Every player longs for playing at his home ground,” she said lauding the Pakistan Cricket Boar (PCB)’s efforts for reviving the cricket.

The tour will start on Sept 27. Three One Day Internationals matches will be played in Karachi and three T20 International matches will be played in Lahore.

The guest team has received go ahead from its ministry of defence for the visit.

In March 2009, the Sri Lanka team, while travelling from stadium to hotel on a bus, was attacked in Lahore, leaving six players injured. Since then, international teams have refused to tour the country. Sri Lanka last played a T20 match on Pakistan soil in October 2017.

SLC Secretary Mohan De Silva visited Pakistan in August the following year to check security arrangements.

“They have promised security reserved for a head of state,” de Silva had said.

According to local media reports, former Sri Lanka skipper Arjuna Ranatunga has urged the Sri Lanka Cricket to return Pakistan the favor of coming to the country during the three decades of political turmoil.

Ranatunga regretted over the SLC’s not showing courage for the Pakistan tour, as some senior players have been rested from visiting the South Asian country.

Match schedule:

1st ODI — Karachi, September 27

2nd ODI — Karachi, September 29

3rd ODI — Karachi, October 2

1st T20 — Lahore, October 5

2nd T20 — Lahore, October 7

3rd T20 — Lahore, October 9