New Zealand arrive in Pakistan after 18 years

Samaraweera was part of the Sri Lankan team that was attacked by militants near the Gadaffi Stadium in Lahore in 2009

New Zealand arrive in Pakistan after 18 years

Pakistan's players attend a practice session at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi on September 11, 2021 ahead of their first one-day international (ODI) cricket match against New Zealand. Photo /AFP

New Zealand’s cricket squad arrived in Pakistan on Saturday for their first tour in 18 years, with batting coach Thilan Samaraweera returning to the country where he was shot in 2009.

Samaraweera was part of the Sri Lankan team that was attacked by militants near the Gadaffi Stadium in Lahore in 2009.

Samaraweera was shot in the left thigh and took three months after surgery to get back on the field.

He has been working with the New Zealand team since 2019. Those attacks led international teams to refuse to tour in Pakistan, forcing them to play in neutral venues in the United Arab Emirates.

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