Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed is hopeful the Sri Lankan team will tour Lahore later this month for the scheduled third and final T20I. Following Pakistan’s successful hosting of World XI for three T20Is in Lahore last month, PCB had scheduled to host Sri Lanka, and the tourists had been promised security that is bestowed to heads of states. However, 40 Sri Lankan players had written to SLC asking the board reconsider the venue for the last game of the ongoing bilateral series.
Sri Lanka’s players are believed to have softened their stance after SLC President Thilanga Sumathipala told Cricbuzz that players concerns will be addressed but they will not be allowed to pick and choose venues.
“The security has improved in Pakistan. I hope the Sri Lankan team will come. I don’t know what the latest is but Thisara Perera was in Lahore last month with the World XI,” Sarfraz told journalists.
Pakistan are 1-0 up in the ongoing ODI series after a comprehensive 83-run win in Dubai on Friday. “We did well in the first ODI in all three departments. The expectations are high for the second game. We have done well in our preparations and are looking forward for a good contest,” Sarfraz said.
This is Pakistan’s first series since their triumph in the Champions Trophy in England in June where they overcame defending champions India convincingly. Sarfraz said he was keen to carry on the same momentum.
“There are still a few things to address. We missed a few things in the first ten overs in the last game. We didn’t take too many singles and that’s something that we need to address. But other than that, it was good overall performance.”
Several young players like Hasan Ali, Fakhar Zaman and Babar Azam have come up with some match winning performances for Pakistan in recent times and Sarfraz stressed the need to give confidence to younger players.
“It’s important to build towards that World Cup, which is less than two years away. We are giving regular chances to youngsters and that will be the key. The World Cup is not far away and we need keep building towards that.”
The second ODI will be played at Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Monday. The third game will also be held there before the teams move to Sharjah for the last two games.
