The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has again sent an official invitation to Sri Lanka for its team to play a series in the terror hit country, later this year.
The Lankans are scheduled to play three Test games, five One Day Internationals and a Twenty20 against the Men in Green.
However, the prospects of the series seem to be hanging in limbo as it has been learned by credible sources that Sri Lanka wants to play the series outside Pakistan.
Nonetheless, as of yet, no official response has been released by the cricket authorities in Sri Lanka regarding the invitation.
Giving information regarding the fresh move, the PCB spokesperson, Nadeem Sarwar said, “It is an official invitation and we are now waiting for their response."
The PCB chairman Ijaz But, before inviting the Sri Lankans, sought security guarantees from the interior minister of Pakistan, Rehman Malik, who assured the world in a press conference that any team touring Pakistan will be given top level security.
The last time the Sri Lankans visited Pakistan, they were ambushed in a failed terrorist attack while they were on their way to the Gaddafi stadium, Lahore, to play against the home side.
The attack killed eight Pakistan nationals while seven members of the Sri Lankan squad received minor injuries. The series was abandoned with immediate effect and the Lankans flew back.
The incident that occurred in March of 2009, caused international embarrassment for the cricket crazy country, which has been struggling to have international teams for a home series ever since.
This year, during the ICC world cup 2011, there were rumours in the media that Cricket Sri Lanka had expressed willingness to send its players to Pakistan again.
However, later some players of the Lankan national squad opted to miss the series if it was to be played in the terror stricken south Asian neighbour.
The PCB seems to have renewed its efforts towards bringing international cricket back home. Later this month, the Afghanistan national team will be playing a three-match one-day series against Pakistan, whichwill be the first international series in almost two-years.
Officials in the PCB are hoping that after the Afghan series, the world will realise that their teams can safely play in the country without any fear of a terrorist attack.
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