A historic moment, says Sethi after Sri Lanka confirms Lahore T20

KARACHI: Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Najam Sethi was a jubilant man on Monday following an announcement from Sri Lanka Cricket which confirmed that Sri Lankan team will tour Pakistan for a T20I match later this month.

“This is a historic moment,” commented Sethi when this correspondent approached him for reaction on the announcement from SLC.

Sri Lankan team will play the T20I match, the third of three match T20I series, on 29th October, after playing first two matches in UAE.

The match is another step towards restoration of International cricket in Pakistan, which last month hosted a star-studded World XI side led by South Africa’s Faf du Plessis.

This is also the first tour by a major cricket team since an attack on bus carrying Sri Lankan team in 2009. Although Zimbabwe visited Pakistan in 2015 for a series of 3 ODIs and 2 T20Is in Lahore.

“I am grateful for the understanding and support given to me by the president of SLC, my friend Thilanga Samathipala,” Sethi said.

“He (Samathipala) made a pledge two months ago to me during the ACC moot in Colombo to break the ice and come to Lahore and help Pakistan bring international cricket home,” the chairman PCB added.

Sethi hoped that the visit by Sri Lankan team will help Pakistan convincing more teams to visit Pakistan.

It is worth mentioning that West Indies is also scheduled to visit Pakistan for a three-match T20I series in Lahore in November.