LAHORE: Former Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq and former Test all-rounder Abdul Razzaq have welcomed the decision of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) of sending its national team of playing one T20 match against Pakistan later this month in Lahore.

Talking to reporters here on Tuesday, Misbah said the decision would help to reopen the doors for international cricket in Pakistan.

Misbah said the credit for the success should be given to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

He said after welcoming Zimbabwe and later the team of the World XI, he also welcomes the Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore and now the West Indies would also come next month as per schedule.

Misbah said the people of Pakistan love the sport of cricket and the country was a safe place for international cricket. He added the way Pakistani spectators thronged the stadium to watch the matches against Zimbabwe and the World XI showed their passion for the game.

He said Pakistani spectators would offer the same kind of gesture to the Sri Lankan cricket team, which had been the victim of a lethal terror attack in Lahore in March 2009.

Meanwhile, Abdul Razzaq said it was a great achievement that Sri Lanka had decided to come to Lahore. However, he added, the real return of international cricket to Pakistan would be when India visits Pakistan to play a series here.

Misbah said the resumption of international cricket in Pakistan would promote the game of cricket in the country.

On Monday, Sri Lanka Cricket announced its decision of sending their team to Lahore to play the last T20 of the three-match series against Pakistan on Oct 29.

Currently, the two teams are engaged in a five-match ODI series in the UAE.

Published in Dawn, October 18th, 2017