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SL can send team to Pak if proper security is assured: report

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Press Trust of India Karachi
Sri Lankan cricket board is ready to send its team to Pakistan again if the hosts can provide proper security assurances to them, a report said today.

According to a report in News One TV today, the media manager for Sri Lankan cricket board said a formal discussion between the Chairmen of Pakistan Cricket Board and SLC will be held in near future.

"Sri Lanka highly values the support from Pakistan in tough times. We understand Pakistan's agony and ready to help in every possible way," said media manager Rajith Fernando.

No Test team has toured Pakistan since March 2009 when gunmen attacked the Sri Lankan team in Lahore in which six Pakistani policemen and a van driver were killed and some of the visiting players wounded.
 

The PCB has been trying hard to convince the International Cricket Council and its member Boards to support them in revival of international cricket in the country.

"Insurgency is not new to us as we have seen it in Sri Lanka for three decades. The 2009 incident was unfortunate, but Sri Lanka can tour Pakistan again if decent security arrangements are guaranteed," Fernando added.

Incidentally, PCB Chairman Najam Sethi and the Secretary of SLC, Nishantha Ranatunga are in the UAE to witness the ongoing series between Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

The SLC spokesman also touched upon the upcoming tour to Bangladesh and hoped it would happen as per scheduled.

"We have not decided to call the tour off as yet but the final decision will be taken after thorough deliberation. We hope situation will get better after the general elections in Bangladesh," Fernando said.

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First Published: Dec 21 2013 | 10:57 PM IST

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