Lahore, Oct 29 (AFP) Pakistan marked the return of SriLanka with a 3-0 Twenty20 series whitewash on Sunday, asofficials hoped it will help re-establish the country'sreputation for hosting international cricket.
The third and final Twenty20 match, which Pakistancomfortably won by 36 runs at Gaddafi stadium in Lahore, wasSri Lanka's first since their team bus was attacked near thesame venue in March 2009.
Those attacks, which left eight people dead and seven SriLanka players and their staff injured, suspended internationalcricket in Pakistan and forced them to play at neutral venuesof United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The first two matches, which Pakistan won by seven andtwo wickets respectively, were played in Abu Dhabi before SriLanka flew to Lahore in a 24-hour fly in, fly out arrangement.
The match was the fourth international since the attack,with Zimbabwe playing a five-match limited over series in 2015followed by the final of Pakistan Super League and a three-match Twenty20 series with World XI comprising of players fromseven countries -- both this year.
Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Najam Sethi dubbed thematch "historic".
"This is historic because it marks the beginning of a newera of international cricket in Pakistan," said Sethi. "Thissends a big signal to the rest of the cricketing nations thatPakistan is ready to host international cricket."Sri Lanka Cricket President Thilanag Sumathipala vowedhis board will not leave Pakistan in isolation.
"We are happy and privileged to be here to supportPakistan cricket," said Sumathipala. "It's a wonderfulcricketing nation. Pakistan has done so much for world cricketand to sports in general so we cannot leave them inisolation."However, a rampaging Pakistan side did not show any mercyto their opponents as they piled up 180-3 in their 20 overs.
Shoaib Malik, the only player from both the sides to havealso featured in the fateful 2009 Lahore Test, smashed a 24-ball 51 with five boundaries and two sixes.
He added 75 for the third wicket with Babar Azam (34 notout) in just 45 balls.
Openers Umar Amin (37-ball 45 with a six and threeboundaries) and Fakhar Zaman (27-ball 31 with three fours)were the other contributors.
Pace bowler Mohammad Amir, playing his firstinternational match before the home crowd after making hisdebut soon after the terrorists' attacks, finished with acareer best 4-13 as Sri Lanka managed 144-9 in 20 overs.
Only Dasun Shanaka batted with aggression during a 36-ball 54 with five boundaries and three sixes before he becameone of Faheem Ashraf's two wickets.
This becomes Pakistan's second 3-0 whitewash in aTwenty20 series, having previously beaten the West Indies inUAE last year.
- Exhilarating scenes - ==========================Thousands of fans filled Gaddafi Stadium under intensesecurity, as the countries' respective national anthems wereplayed before a capacity 23,000 crowd.
The city was adorned with pictures of the Sri Lankancricketers as fans converged on the stadium hours before thestart of the match.
Fans applauded both the teams before the start of thematch and beat drums in an exhilarating atmosphere.
Sethi hoped Sri Lanka's return will be followed by athree-match Twenty20 series with the world champions, WestIndies, next month, which is due to be finalised in the nextfew days. AFP KHSKHS.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.