Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka thanked the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and their security forces for ensuring the team’s safety during their tour, which was under heightened alert after a recent bomb blast.
This came after the T20I Tri-Series final loss at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Saturday, a match that saw Sri Lanka collapse from a strong position. After being 81-1, they lost their last eight wickets for just 16 runs to be bowled out for 114. Pakistan chased down the target of 115 with six wickets and eight balls to spare.
“I have been there before. I am satisfied with the security arranged for us and I am happy to lead my team to Pakistan. We hope to give a good fight to our very strong hosts,” Dasun Shanaka told reporters on Tuesday.
Shaheen Afridi and Mohammad Nawaz picked up three wickets each before Babar Azam guided Pakistan’s chase to a commanding six-wicket win over Sri Lanka in the tri-series final in Rawalpindi on Saturday.
The team took blessings of saffron-robed Buddhist monks before leaving from Colombo.
