ISLAMABAD – Former Sri Lankan captain Sanath Jayasuriya has expressed the hope that Sri Lankan government will seriously consider to send its cricket team to Pakistan as the country is now fully safe for international matches.
“I have visited different places of Pakistan and found it safe and secure,” Jayasuriya, told media here. The 46-year-old, former left-handed batsman is nowadays on a visit to Pakistan. He has been appearing in a state-run sports TV channel as a cricket analyst during the recently concluded Pakistan-Sri Lanka Test, ODI and T20 series.
During his stay, he has visited different entertaining and recreational spots of Pakistan, including Murree and Nathiagali and enjoyed the pleasant weather of the country. Jayasuria, who is also deputy minister of Provincial Council of Sri Lanka, said that he would tell his government that situation had improved in Pakistan and it was safe to play here.
– Quite normal life in Pakistan –
“Not only cricket but other international sports activities should also return to Pakistan,” he said. He said that life in Pakistan was quite normal and there was nothing to worry about now. “Pakistan is a peace-loving country. People here are loving and caring. They love peace; they love sports,” said Jayasuriya, who played 110 Tests and 445 one-day internationals in an illustrious career that ended four years ago.
No international cricket matches were played in Pakistan between 2009 and 2015 after a terrorist attack on the Sri Lanka team’s bus in Lahore in March 2009. The country’s six-year isolation ended when Zimbabwe toured Pakistan in May-June this year for two Twenty20 internationals and three one-day matches. The Pakistan Cricket Board said that it was trying to convince Sri Lanka, Ireland and the Netherlands to tour the country next year.
