Pakistan, Sri Lanka cricket teams reach Lahore for third T20I

By
Web Desk

October 29, 2017

LAHORE: The cricket teams of Pakistan and Sri Lanka arrived here in the early hours of Sunday morning amid tight security, set to play the third and final match of the T20I series later today in a historical moment for the nation.

Both teams safely reached their hotel from Allama Iqbal International Airport, escorted by security officials and police.

Led by all-rounder Thisara Perera after Upal Tharanga pulled out of the fixture, the Sri Lankan team departed from Abu Dhabi at 10 PM and landed in Lahore at 2:25 AM.

Pakistan's squad, on the other hand, left Dubai via a different flight and reached Lahore at 1:50 AM.

Players of the Sri Lankan cricket team arrive at their hotel early Sunday morning, having flown in from Abu Dhabi to Allama Iqbal International Airport, Lahore, Pakistan, October 29, 2017
Players of the Sri Lankan cricket team arrive at their hotel early Sunday morning, having flown in from Abu Dhabi to Allama Iqbal International Airport, Lahore, Pakistan, October 29, 2017
Players of the Sri Lankan cricket team travel from Allama Iqbal International Airport to their hotel in a bus, escorted by tight security, comprising police personnel and other officials in Lahore, Pakistan, October 29, 2017
Players of the Sri Lankan cricket team travel from Allama Iqbal International Airport to their hotel in a bus, escorted by tight security, comprising police personnel and other officials in Lahore, Pakistan, October 29, 2017
Players of the Sri Lankan cricket team — who arrived at Allama Iqbal International Airport, Lahore early Sunday morning — on way to their hotel rooms, Pakistan, October 29, 2017
Players of the Sri Lankan cricket team — who arrived at Allama Iqbal International Airport, Lahore early Sunday morning — on way to their hotel rooms, Pakistan, October 29, 2017
Players of the Sri Lankan cricket team arrive at their hotel early Sunday morning, having flown in from Abu Dhabi to Allama Iqbal International Airport, Lahore, Pakistan, October 29, 2017
Players of the Sri Lankan cricket team arrive at their hotel early Sunday morning, having flown in from Abu Dhabi to Allama Iqbal International Airport, Lahore, Pakistan, October 29, 2017
Players of the Sri Lankan cricket team descend from the aeroplane at Allama Iqbal International Airport, Lahore, Pakistan, October 29, 2017
Players of the Sri Lankan cricket team descend from the aeroplane at Allama Iqbal International Airport, Lahore, Pakistan, October 29, 2017

Upon arrival in Lahore, the Sri Lankan skipper said it was great to be back.

"It's nice to be in Pakistan again," said Perera, who was part of the World XI last month. "We are thankful for a warm welcome and will do our best to entertain the crowd with some good cricket."

Sri Lanka´s sports minsiter Dayasiri Jayasekera and Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) President Thilanga Sumathipala are also on the tour while a two-member security delegation is in Lahore for the last two days to oversee security arrangements.

"We are thankful to the Sri Lankan team for coming to Pakistan and I request the fans to support both the teams during the match," said Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed.

The Green Shirts already lead the T20I series 2-0, having emerged victorious against Sri Lanka by seven wickets in the opening game and winning a last-ball thriller in the second one.

Sunday’s game will mark the homecoming of top-level international cricket as Sri Lanka becomes the first major cricket team to visit Pakistan since they were targeted in a deadly ambush back in 2009 — with attack survivors among those returning to the scene.

Tens of thousands of security personnel have been deployed in Lahore to guard routes to the stadium for the occasion, while air surveillance and intelligence monitoring is also in place as Pakistan rolls out head-of-state level measures.

—Additional reporting by Jaffar Hussain in Abu Dhabi, photographs by Faizan Lakhani