Pakistan win by 36 runs, mark Sri Lanka return with T20 whitewash

LAHORE: Pakistan marked the return of Sri Lanka with a 3-0 Twenty20 series whitewash on Sunday, as officials hoped it would help reestablish the country's reputation for hosting international cricket.

The third and final Twenty20 match, which Pakistan comfortably won by 36 runs at Gaddafi stadium in Lahore, was Sri Lanka's first since their team bus was attacked eight years ago in the same city near the same venue in March 2009.

Those attacks, which left eight people dead and seven Sri Lankan players and staff injured, suspended international cricket in Pakistan and forced them to play at neutral venues of United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The first two matches, which Pakistan won by seven and two wickets respectively, were played in Abu Dhabi before Sri Lanka flew to Lahore in a 24-hour fly in, fly out arrangement.

The match was the fourth international since the attack, with Zimbabwe playing a five-match limited over series in 2015 followed by the final of Pakistan Super League and a three-match Twenty20 series with World XI comprising of players from seven countries — both this year.

Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Najam Sethi dubbed the match "historic".

"This is historic because it marks the beginning of a new era of international cricket in Pakistan," said Sethi. "This sends a big signal to the rest of the cricketing nations that Pakistan is ready to host international cricket."

Sri Lanka Cricket President Thilanag Sumathipala vowed his board will not leave Pakistan in isolation.

"We are happy and privileged to be here to support Pakistan cricket," said Sumathipala. "It's a wonderful cricketing nation. Pakistan has done so much for world cricket and to sports in general so we cannot leave them in isolation."

However, a rampaging Pakistan side did not show any mercy to their opponents as they piled up 180-3 in their 20 overs.

Shoaib Malik, the only player from both the sides to have also featured in the fateful 2009 Lahore Test, smashed a 24-ball 51 with five boundaries and two sixes.

He added 75 for the third wicket with Babar Azam (34 not out) in just 45 balls. Openers Umar Amin (37-ball 45 with a six and three boundaries) and Fakhar Zaman (27-ball 31 with three fours) were the other contributors.

Pace bowler Mohammad Amir, playing his first international match before the home crowd after making his debut soon after the terrorist attacks, finished with a career best 4-13 as Sri Lanka managed 144-9 in 20 overs.

Only Dasun Shanaka batted with aggression during a 36-ball 54 with five boundaries and three sixes before he became one of Faheem Ashraf's two wickets.

This becomes Pakistan's second 3-0 whitewash in a Twenty20 series, having previously beaten the West Indies in UAE last year. 

Thousands of fans filled Gaddafi Stadium under intense security, as the countries' respective national anthems were played before a capacity 23,000 crowd.

In pictures: Pak vs Sri Lanka T20I in Lahore 

The city was adorned with pictures of the Sri Lankan cricketers as fans converged on the stadium hours before the start of the match.

Fans applauded both the teams before the start of the match and beat drums in an exhilarating atmosphere.

Sethi hoped Sri Lanka's return will be followed by a three-match Twenty20 series with the world champions, West Indies, next month, which is due to be finalised in the next few days.

Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium was witnessing the return of top-flight cricket after a drought of eight years. The stadium hosted its sixth international T20 game tonight.

Pakistan already led 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, was much more than just a game of cricket.

The occasion marked the homecoming of top-level international cricket as Sri Lanka became 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 were deployed in Lahore for the occasion. They are guarding routes to the stadium, and air surveillance and intelligence monitoring is also in place as Pakistan rolls out head-of-state level measures.

Although some Sri Lankan players and officials, including their head coach, opted out of the T20 fixture, Asanka Gurusinha and Hashan Tillakaratne, who came under gunfire in 2009 and are now Sri Lanka's team manager and batting coach, was with the squad as it was shuttled in and out of Gaddafi Stadium under heavy guard.

Pakistan’s Ahsan Raza, a reserve umpire in 2009 who was among those shot, was also on the field.

PCB chairman Najam Sethi  hailed the match as a "historic moment", pointing out that a generation of fans in the cricket-mad country have grown up without seeing any international games in their home stadiums.

Current members of the Pakistan squad, along with former greats, politicians and fans extended a warm welcome to the Sri Lankan team, which reached Lahore from UAE overnight.

Earlier, veteran all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez took to Twitter to express his excitement for the historic match.

Shoaib Malik couldn't hold back his excitement for the match. 

Prior to tonight’s game, Lahore successfully hosted this year's Pakistan Super League final and the Independence Cup series between Pakistan and World XI last month.