SL security delegation to visit Lahore

A delegation from Sri Lanka will visit Lahore today to inspect the security arrangements for the lone Twenty20 match scheduled for October 29 before giving final clearance for the Island nation's tour to Pakistan, the Nation (Pakistan) reported.

Sri Lanka Cricket is determined to send its team to Pakistan and its president has insisted that his team will play in Lahore despite the pullout of some key players for the lone Twenty20 match.

In response to the refusal by their key players to play the match in Lahore, the SLC and selectors have picked a new look but depleted squad for all three T20 matches, two of which will be held in Dubai before the team flies to Lahore for a day.

The Sri Lankan security delegation during their visit will be given detailed briefings on the arrangements and shown dress rehearsals by the concerned security officials in Lahore. The delegation will also visit the team hotel and ground to see all arrangements beforehand before they report back to their board and the government after which clearance will be given to the Sri Lankan team to fly from Dubai to Lahore.

The Sri Lankan delegation is also expected to given a detailed briefing on Lahore safe city project at its office in Qurban Lines, where the delegation will be able to see the live footage of all the routes and the venue.

The Sri Lankan team's visit is seen as very significant by the PCB and fans as it was after militants attacked the Sri Lankan team in Lahore in March, 2009 that international teams stopped visiting Pakistan because of security concerns.

"Even if they are coming for just one match but it's significance is enormous because they were the ones who came under attack and if their board and government shows confidence in us to send their team, it will send a positive message to other boards as well," PCB’s media director Amjad Hussain Bhatti said.

Bhatti said the recently-held series against World XI was of great advantage for both the Board and security agencies as it was easier for them to replicate the same arrangements and focusing more on the minor details as well.

Due to its significance and symbolic nature of the event, Bhatti said, the Sri Lankan tour is even more important for Pakistan as the PCB is hosting a team who was a direct victim of the terror attack in 2009.

He said all the arrangements has been almost finalised and the liaison between all the concerned departments has been agreed upon and hoped that the PCB and all other security agencies would make the event aa memorable one for all the right reasons.

Tickets for the October 29 match are already on sale and there has been a big demand from fans for the match to be played at the Gaddafi Stadium.