Thanks to Almighty Allah that after great efforts of both the governments and Cricket Boards of Pakistan and Sri Lanka, the Sri Lankan cricket team landed at Jinnah International Airport, Karachi to open the doors of international cricket in Pakistan.
As per schedule, 3 ODIs in Karachi and 3 T20Is in Lahore. The team was received by PCB and local administration with a VIP protocol and security. Sri Lanka was the last team that played international cricket at Lahore. Unfortunately due to a sad incident of suicide bomb attack on the team’s bus, the tour was called off. Five Local security guards and two civilians were killed. Thanks to Allah, the team was safe but a few players received minor injuries.
The doors to international cricket were closed in Pakistan due to terrorism. Terrorism has a long story. We need to keep difference between sports and politics. Sports provide you entertainment whereas politics provide you tension. Terrorism is found all over the world today. Recently, police officers in France were stabbed and another in a state of US, Kansas where 4-5 people were shot down. What happened in Christchurch on 15 March, 2019? Terrorists attacked a mosque and killed about 30 Muslims. US is not even exempted from terrorism. Terrorists kill often people in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, USA, England, France, Germany, Turkey and other countries but sports did not suffer.
Before the World Cup in England, it happened but it did not affect the tournament. To stop sports or other social activities is not a solution. By banning Asian countries, we encourage terrorism. We have to face terrorism with courage and strong security. The Government is always more powerful with full resources than terrorists. On top, law is with you.
Pakistan and Sri Lanka have always enjoyed brotherly relations in every step of life. Both the countries helped each other whenever required. We believe that both of us are on a target of a common enemy. The Government of Pakistan, PCB and the people of Pakistan are thankful to our great friend, Sri Lanka for sending their team, accepting all the security challenges.
Some senior players refused to come due to security reasons but all the credit goes to the Government and the Cricket Board of Sri who took a strong and bold step to send the team with youngsters. It is a great occasion for us that after the incident in Lahore, the same team has come to open the doors of International cricket for us and set an example to prove that Pakistan was a safe country for cricket. It is hoped that other teams would follow this example.
Winning and losing is part of the game. Results have no value in this series as the Sri Lankan team has come to reopen the doors of international cricket for us which is a good sign to restore our international cricket. It is an encouragement for the local sponsors. The crowds enjoyed international cricket after 10 years.
The Sri Lanka team was without the services of 6-7 senior cricketers but the truth is that these youngsters never let us feel that they were new. I can say that experience won. It will be more beneficiary for Sri Lanka cricket to find a few new players due to this series.
Youngsters have shown their talent on this tour.
The tour by the Sri Lanka team has no doubt helped Pakistan restore international cricket and also given a golden chance to new players of the Sri Lankan team to show their skills. They have been given a chance to explore themselves against one of the best bowling attacks of Pakistan on different wickets and weather conditions.
If 2-3 youngsters from this team are selected along with their senior players in future, I am sure it would be a great achievement for Sri Lanka cricket. After watching all the matches, no doubt Pakistan won the ODI series but even then Sri Lanka showed their resistance and fighting spirit.
As far as the T20 series is concerned, the opening match at Qaddafi Stadium, Lahore, Sri Lanka beat Pakistan by 67 runs. From the first ball, the Sri Lanka batsmen were aggressive against the Pakistan bowling attack. Bowling of Sri Lanka especially both the spinners were worth seeing and they never allowed the Pakistani batsmen to play freely and stay longer at the crease. Their ground fielding was superb. Youngsters were seen fighting to save a single and took chances to make it double in the batting.
The second T20I was also won by the tourists. They lost the first wicket quickly but recovered from the loss by scoring 182/6. Pakistan batting remained under pressure. Once again they never allowed the Pakistani batsmen to play freely. Pradeep remained dangerous capturing 4/25 in 4 overs. Their bowlers kept them under pressure and control. Imad Wasim showed a little resistance but got out at 47. Pakistan could score only 147 in 19 overs. Sri Lanka won by 35 runs to take a winning 2-0 lead in the series.
On 9 October the last T20I match was played at Qaddafi Stadium, Lahore which turned out to a formality as Sri Lanka had already won the series. But still in the Pakistan camps they did their best to avoid a whitewash.
But Sri Lanka created history to complete a 3-0 whitewash of Pakistan. Pakistan failed to achieve a target of 148 which seemed achievable at one stage and they fell short by 13 runs.
The No.1 team in T20I had been whitewash by a team ranked at No.8. Once again performance, will power and fighting spirit was the main weapons used by the Sri Lankan youngsters to achieve this memorable victory. Congratulations to the youngsters and well played Sri Lanka. The Pakistani crowd had a lot of hopes that the team will succeed to avoid a whitewash but now one can say that experience lost. The better team won.
Both the Cricket Boards have achieved their goals. Pakistan arranged all the matches peacefully under the best security to open the doors of international cricket in the country. As mentioned above, win or lose had no attraction the but main objective was to organize the matches, which, by the grace of Allah, was done peacefully.
The crowd enjoyed the international cricket after a gap of ten years. The crowd supported both teams by displaying the Sri Lankan and Pakistani flags. Such support and gesture would help a lot for Pakistan to invite other teams.
The Sri Lankan Board and their selection committee must be delighted on the performance of their youngsters. They deserved to win. They came 100% on the hopes of their selectors. It proves that the future of cricket in Sri Lanka is bright. These youngsters must have played for the first time in Pakistan. They have accepted all the challenges and proved their class. After watching both the series, I guess these youngsters have a bright future. Wish them all the best.
The writer is President Airport Gymkhana Cricket Club, Karachi, Ex-Director Sports, Pakistan Customs Sports Complex, Karachi.
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