The Sri Lankan cricket team arrived at Lahore’s Allama Iqbal International Airport in the early hours of Sunday to play the the final Twenty20 international match at a heavily-guarded Gaddafi Stadium.

the team received a warm welcome in the city and was escorted to the hotel amid tight security.

Sri Lankan Captain Thushara Perera expressed joy upon his arrival in Pakistan and said that his team would try and give their best on the field today.

Pakistan Skipper Sarfraz Ahmad, in a video message, thanked the Sri Lankan team for returning to Pakistan and told fans to expect great cricketing spirit from both sides in tonight’s showdown

Asanka Gurusinha and Hashan Tillakaratne two of Sri Lanka’s survivors in the 2009 attack that killed eight have also arrived at to Lahore again as team manager and batting coach respectively.

However, several Sri Lanka players still opted out of playing in Pakistan. Regular captain Upul Tharanga, Lasith Malinga, Niroshan Dickwella, Suranga Lakmal and Akila Dananjaya all pulled out.

Cricket-starved fans have bought tickets in large numbers to witness Sunday’s match despite the series already being won by Pakistan.

“What’s important to me is that we are hosting an international match and show the world that it’s safe to play in Pakistan,” said Ghulam Abbas, a college student. “I think after the West Indies tour, the doors of international cricket will be wide open in Pakistan.”