After 2009 Lahore terror attack Sangakkara could tour Pakistan as MCC President

Kumar Sangakkara

Kumar Sangakkara, one of the six Sri Lankan players who were injured in a terror attack on the Sri Lankan bus in 2009, said he is willing to tour Pakistan once again.

Cricket returned to Pakistan recently, but not in the manner the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) would have imagined, as Sri Lanka decided to send a second-stringed team to Pakistan after 10 of its key players pulled out of the tour citing security concerns. 

Sri Lanka’s reluctance made sense considering six of its players, including the legendary Kumar Sangakkara, were injured in a terror attack on the Sri Lankan bus in 2009 that took place in Lahore. 

While a lot has changed since then, no major cricket team has toured Pakistan after the major security lapse.

Occasionally, Pakistan has managed to invite several overseas players – in an attempt to resume cricket. 

Yes, if the opportunity arises and the tour definitely goes ahead I would be part of it for sure

Sangakkara, who was a part of the Sri Lankan squad which was attacked in 2009, has opined that he is willing to tour Pakistan if a proposed tour by the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) happens in Pakistan.

“Yes, if the opportunity arises and the tour definitely goes ahead I would be part of it for sure,” Sangakkara was quoted as saying.

Sangakkara was speaking at the Sri Lanka High Commission in London as part of a drive to rebuild tourism from the UK to Sri Lanka

Sangakkara, who is currently the MCC President, also hailed Pakistan’s security arrangements during Sri Lanka’s recent visit. 

“It’s great to see Sri Lanka tour Pakistan and the feedback was that it was such a great tour, it was lovely. The players really enjoyed it. The security was really tight. And they provided every single facility for the Sri Lankan team.” 

“The MCC has been discussing an MCC tour to Pakistan as well. Wasim Khan has been with us at many presentations at the World Cricket Committee and presenting us with various plans in terms of security and otherwise as to how that tour can go ahead,” he added.

While no team toured Pakistan for six years since the terror attack in 2009, the hiatus was broken by Zimbabwe - who toured Pakistan for a limited-overs series in 2015. 
Since then, Pakistan has seen more overseas players touring the nation. Sangakkara further expressed confidence that cricket will finally resume in Pakistan once the security measures are in place.

“So there is a lot of positive chat and conversation around it and if they can manage that, that will be exceptional. I mean Pakistan is doing a huge amount of work to ensure that it is a safe place for countries to tour. I’m sure slowly but surely cricket will go back to Pakistan and players from Pakistan will be able to play in front of their home crowd,” he concluded. 

(Agencies)