It’s time for Sri Lanka to repay Pakistan
abu dhabi — Cricket is not just a bat and ball game but over the years it has been used as a political tool to strengthen relations between nations. Cricket as a sport has also sent out strong messages to the world on co-existence, peace and brotherhood.
During the 1996 Cricket World Cup, when Australia and West Indies refused to play matches in Sri Lanka citing security reasons, their friendly neighbours stood by them. Not only did India and Pakistan play an exhibition match in Sri Lanka but they took the field as a combined unit at the R Premadasa Stadium.
The magnanimous gesture didn’t quite manage to change Australian or West Indian hearts but what it did was succeed in bringing Zimbabwe and Kenya to play World Cup matches in Sri Lanka.
On that day, the 22-yard pitch had stood tall against terrorism.
And befittingly in the World Cup final, Arjuna Ranatunga’s boys defeated Australia as the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore celebrated the famous win.
Fast forward 21 years to the present day, it is time for Sri Lanka to help Pakistan.
The Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has decided to play the final T20 of the ongoing tour in Lahore following the 2009 attack on their team bus.
And two players who were part of the dream team of 1996 — Asanka Gurusinha and Hashan Tillakaratne gave the thumbs up for the Lahore T20 match on October 29.
Present batting coach Hashan Tillakaratne said: “Sri Lanka Cricket has already announced that the team is travelling to Pakistan. In 1996, a combined Pakistan and India side came to Sri Lanka and helped our game. So, it is our duty to go back and help them.”
Team manager Gurusinha, echoed the sentiments and said it was a great gesture by India and Pakistan to play in Sri Lanka just two weeks after the Central Bank bombing that killed more than 90 people.
“They came down — six Indian and six Pakistani cricketers. Most probably if they hadn’t come, I don’t know whether Kenya and Zimbabwe would have come down to play the World Cup matches.”
Gurusinha noted that since Sri Lanka Cricket has reviewed all security measures, the team will also look at it very seriously.
“This is one great step by Sri Lanka to express solidarity with Pakistan and will be a message for others to follow.”
ashwani@khaleejtimes.com