Sri Lanka Cricket confirms the third T20I against Pakistan will be played in Lahore

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) on October 16 confirmed that the Sri Lankan team that is on tour against Pakistan will play the last match of the three-match Twenty20 International series at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore on October 29. Earlier today it was reported that their limited-overs skipper Upul Tharanga is unwilling to travel to Pakistan and thus his name will be excluded from the team for the entire series.

The board had clarified that they will only pick those players who were prepared to travel to the country but in no way would they consider moving the game out of Pakistan as their obligation towards the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

Satisfied with the security

SLC has taken due precautions as far as the security is concerned and evaluated things precisely with the help of the governments of both the countries.

“SLC have over the past two months conducted a thorough evaluation with the assistance of the Government of Sri Lanka, the Government of Pakistan, the PCB and independent Security experts and The Executive Committee today (16), evaluated the reports obtained together with the recommendation of the International Cricket Council – which successfully conducted the Independence Cup tournament in Lahore fielding a World XI Team —and having been fully satisfied with the stringent security measures in place, the SLC ExCo unanimously decided to play the 3.720 in Lahore on the 2B. October,” a SLC media release read.

The selectors have been asked to pick a 22-member squad for the series by October 17 and filter it down to 15 by October 20.

SLC President, Thilanga Sumathipala is also set to travel to the neighbouring country when the team travels to play the game. He also sent across best wishes to his Pakistani counterpart Najam Sethi and the PCB as they are gearing up to host the first bilateral game in the country.