Sri Lanka gives go-ahead for Pakistan tour

Sri Lanka gives go-ahead for Pakistan cricket tour

Sri Lanka has given the green light for the national cricket team to to ur Pakistan next month in place of India, who cancelled their five-week series over the Mumbai attacks.

Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama announced the decision after talks with President Mahinda Rajapakse, who sanctioned the tour, which will run from January 20 to February 25, the foreign

ministry said.

"Minister Bogollagama is of the view that sport is an effective means of promoting connectivity between nations and thereby enhancing friendship and mutual goodwill between countries," the ministry said in a statement.

Last week, Sri Lanka's cricket board said it had agreed to take India's place,

and will play five one-day internationals and three Tests.

Sri Lanka are likely to play Test matches in Karachi, Lahore and Multan, while Karachi would also host the two proposed one-dayers. The remaining one-dayers would likely be played in Lahore.

Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik welcomed the announcement, saying: "It's great news. It will give us some much needed international cricket and we are determined to do well."

The director general of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Javed Miandad, told AFP: "Not only the cricket fraternity but the whole of Pakistan is thankful to the Sri Lankan president for clearing their tour to Pakistan." ( Pix:1996-Lahore)

"I hope more and more people come to watch Sri Lanka play in Pakistan because we want to prove to the world that Pakistan is safe and secure for cricket," he added.

Pakistan last played a Test match in December last year, against India in Bangalore.

India called off their tour of Pakistan after New Delhi refused to grant the team permission to travel across the border in the wake of last month's attacks on Mumbai, which India has blamed on Pakistan-based militants.

The PCB said it was set to lose at least 25 million dollars as a result of the cancellation but would recover some of the money by hosting Sri Lanka.

Australia refused to tour Pakistan in March over security fears.

Then in August, the International Cricket Council (ICC) was forced to put off the elite eight-nation Champions Trophy to be hosted by Pakistan after South Africa pulled out of the event over security fears.

The ICC rescheduled the event for September-October 2009 but will assess the security situation in Pakistan during the Sri Lanka series before taking a final decision.