Pakistan is a safe country for sports events: Amir Khan

LAHORE: British-Pakistani boxer Amir Khan, in a press conference on Sunday, said that Pakistan is a safe country.

“I am here in Pakistan to support the team and I want to tell the world that Pakistan a safe country for sports,” the boxer said, after he arrived in Lahore to witness the return of top-flight cricket in the country after a drought of eight years, as Pakistan and Sri Lanka face off in the third and final T20I tonight.

 

Tennis star Sania Mirza is also in Lahore to watch the match at the Gaddafi Stadium. 

Pakistan already lead the T20I series 2-0, after beating Sri Lanka by seven wickets in the opening game and winning a last-ball thriller in the second T20I. Today's match, however, is much more than just a game of cricket.

The occasion marks the homecoming of top-level international cricket as Sri Lanka become the first major cricket team to visit Pakistan since they were targeted in a deadly ambush in 2009 — with attack survivors among those returning to the scene.

Tens of thousands of security personnel have been deployed in Lahore for the occasion, to guard routes to the stadium. 

Air surveillance and intelligence monitoring are also in place as Pakistan rolls out head-of-state level measures.