Lanka set to return to Lahore

Sri Lanka will return to Lahore for a Twenty20 international at the end of October, eight years after gunmen attacked a bus carrying its players in the Pakistan city.

Apart from a short visit by Zimbabwe in 2015, Pakistan has been starved of international cricket since the 2009 attack in which six security staff and two civilians were killed and six of Sri Lanka’s players were wounded.

Subject to security clearance, Sri Lanka will play Pakistan at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium on October 29 in the final fixture of a three-match T20 series.

The first two will be played in Pakistan’s adopted United Arab Emirates ‘home’ after a two-Test series starting in Abu Dhabi on September 28 and five one-day internationals.

The International Cricket Council has also given its backing to a World XI, led by South Africa skipper Faf du Plessis, playing a three-match T20 series in Lahore from Tuesday in a bid to help revive international cricket in the country.

The second Test in Dubai starting October 6 will be Sri Lanka’s first day-night match in the longest format.

Itinerary: Tests: First: Sept 28-October 2 (Abu Dhabi); Second (day-night): October 6-10 (Dubai). ODIs: First: October 13 (Dubai); Second: October 16 (Abu Dhabi); Third: October 18 (Abu Dhabi); Fourth: October 24 (Sharjah); Fifth: October 23 (Sharjah). T20Is: First: October 26 (Abu Dhabi); Second: October 27 (Abu Dhabi); Third: October 29 (Lahore).