ISLAMABAD: Batting legend Javed Miandad believes Sri Lankan team visiting Lahore for the last Twenty20 is a great achievement for Pakistan cricket.

Talking to APP, Miandad said Sri Lankan team’s visit to Lahore for the said match gives a clear message to the whole world that Pakistan has come out victorious from the menace of terrorism as international cricket has revived in the country.

“The Gaddafi Stadium was jam-packed for the Pakistan Super League final [held in March this year] and the Independence Cup matches [between World XI and Pakistan] which shows our nation had been desperate to witness international cricket on their home soil for a long time,” he said.

“No country is safe from the menace of terrorism. As far as Pakistan is concerned, the security situation here has improved,” the 124-Test veteran emphasised.

“I urge international teams to come here and play as Pakistan is safe.

We are a sports-loving nation having great respect and love for humanity.”

Meanwhile, Zaheer Abbas, another batting great and former captain, has lauded Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) for sending its team to Pakistan for the third T20 International.

“SLC has done a tremendous job by deciding to send its team to Pakistan for supplementing the efforts of Pakistan Cricket Board in bringing back international cricket. SLC’s role will always be remembered in Pakistan cricket history,” former ICC president Zaheer said while talking to APP on Saturday.

Without the all-out support from SLC it was not possible for the PCB to hold the third T20 in Lahore, he maintained.

“Though Sri Lanka are playing just one T20 [here in Lahore], yet it contains its own significance. The step will help Pakistan in bringing back more international cricket in near future,” he added.

“The Sri Lankans’ visit after a long gap [of eight years] proves that they are Pakistan’s all-time friends who value PCB’s efforts for reviving international cricket in the country.”

He said the ICC task force on Pakistan cricket and the players who represented the World XI in the Independence Cup T20 series last month widely acknowledged the investment Pakistan had made for reviving international cricket in the country.

“Due to PCB’s persistent efforts the West Indies team has also agreed to visit Pakistan next month for a three-match T20 International series,” Zaheer, a 78-Test veteran, underlined.

Published in Dawn, October 29th, 2017