Sri Lankans want team to tour Pakistan

Most Sri Lankan fans believe that their national team should tour Pakistan in order to promote international cricket.

COLOMBO: While the debate on the revival of international cricket in Pakistan continues, and its repercussions are weighed, most Sri Lankans, including the country’s cricket journalists, have urged their team to undertake their scheduled tour of Pakistan later this year.

Scheduled to tour in October as part of International Cricket Council’s (ICC) Future Tour Programme, the tour remains unconfirmed given the security situation in Pakistan after the Lahore attack in 2009. The Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) Chairman DS de Silva left the decision for the ICC which, in December, gave individual boards the power to decide for themselves.

While the officials mull over the decision, most of the cricket fans in Sri Lanka have given their team a go-ahead for the tour.

“Sri Lanka should go and play in Pakistan,” Arun Kumar, a Colombo-based journalist told The Express Tribune. “The tour is vital for the revival of cricket in Pakistan and our team should not deprive them of international cricket. The Lahore incident was unfortunate but such things do not happen every time.”

Sean Wittachy, an IT professional, felt it was time for his country to support Pakistan cricket which always helped them promote the sport in Sri Lanka.

“We faced years of crisis due to the Tamil resurgence but Pakistan never refused to visit Sri Lanka and now the SLC should help the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) in reviving international cricket. Sports should work as a bridge in connecting nations.”

Ali Fatharally, a management accountant, also urged the team not to withdraw from the tour.

“There is no point in deciding against touring Pakistan because terrorists attacks can take place anywhere. Hopefully the World Cup will be held in a befitting manner but incidents like that can also take place in this tournament. I am confident that the SLC will not disappoint Pakistan cricket.”

However, Dammika Deeptha Agampodi, editor of Lanka E Reporter webportal, spoke out against touring Pakistan.

“I think the tour should be held on a neutral venue as Pakistan is not a safe place nowadays. We cannot afford to take a second risk as our players are very important to us.”

Published in The Express Tribune, February 27^th, 2011.