Marking the second anniversary of the deadly terrorist attack on Sri Lanka's national team, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB)Thursday expressed its appreciation for Sri Lanka's willingness to tour the country again.
"We are grateful to Sri Lanka Cricket that despite the events of that day they have once again expressed a willingness to tour Pakistan," PCB Chairman, Muhammad Ijaz Butt has said.
Paying tribute to those who were killed in the attack, Butt has said that "the considerable damage caused to Pakistan Cricket because of the attacks will take time and concerted efforts to mitigate."
On March 03, 2009 at least dozen gunmen opened fire and lobbed hand grenades at the bus carrying the Sri Lankan team to the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore and at the security convoy escorting the bus.
A total of eight players and team's British assistant coach, Paul Farbrace were injured in the attack, which also left six security personnel and two civilians including the driver of a convoy vehicle transporting umpires dead.
Sri Lanka cricket team captain Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardena, Thilan Samaraweera, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Ajantha Mendis, Dilhara Fernando, Chamara Kapugedera and legendary Muttiah Muralitharan suffered injuries in the attack.
Sri Lanka agreed to tour Pakistan in 2009 after India pulled out from their tour in Pakistan following the terror attacks in Mumbai.
