Jayasuriya great hopeful for cricket revival in Pakistan

PESHAWAR: Former Sri Lankan captain Sanath Jayasuriya expressed optimism Friday that more international cricket matches would be held in Pakistan and said the security situation was improving in the country.

The 46-year-old, who is in Pakistan for the ongoing series between Pakistan and Sri Lanka as an analyst for a sports TV channel, was talking to reporters after his visit to the school where Taliban gunmen killed 154 people, most of them schoolchildren, in December last year.

Jayasuriya, who played 110 Tests and 445 one-day internationals in an illustrious career that ended four years ago, said he believes Pakistan is now a safer place.

"Pakistan is a peace-loving country and people here love peace," he said.

"There is nothing to worry (about) here and life is now normal, so I hope Pakistan (will) host more international cricket in future."

No international cricket matches were played in Pakistan between 2009 and 2015 after a terrorist attack on the Sri Lanka team´s bus in Lahore in March 2009.

The country´s six-year isolation ended when Zimbabwe toured Pakistan in May-June this year for two Twenty20 internationals and three one-day matches.

The Pakistan Cricket Board said it was trying to convince Sri Lanka, Ireland and the Netherlands to tour the country next year. (AFP)