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Ajmal urges fans to ensure Sri Lankan players feel at home

Islanders are touring Pakistan for a three-match ODI and T20I series

Ajmal urges fans to ensure Sri Lankan players feel at home PHOTO: AFP

Former Pakistan off-spinner Saeed Ajmal has urged local fans to support the Sri Lankan team as well, as Pakistan gear up to take on the Islanders at home soil.

While talking to Cricket Pakistan, Ajmal spoke about the importance of Sri Lankan team’s tour of Pakistan.    

“The local fans should support the Sri Lankan team as well because they are playing their part in revival of international cricket in Pakistan,” said Ajmal. “Once the Sri Lankan tour concludes, we will be in a position to ask other countries, including Australia and England, to visit Pakistan for bilateral series.”  

The Faisalabad-born also reiterated that the Pakistan fans love watching cricketers playing in their own backyard, rather than at a neutral venue.

“Pakistan is a cricket-loving nation and we want to see our cricketers play on home soil,” he said. “Hopefully this series will go a long way in ensuring that we regularly start hosting matches in Pakistan.”

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The Islanders are touring Pakistan for a three-match ODI and T20I series, respectively, with the first ODI scheduled to take place on Friday, September 27, 2019.  

The remaining ODIs will also be in Karachi on Sunday and Wednesday.

The T20I series will take place in Lahore, on October 5, 7 and 9.