Sri Lanka's&nbsp;cricket&nbsp;legend Kumar Sangakkara&nbsp;has returned to Pakistan for the first time since&nbsp;the 2009 terror attacks in which the Lankan national team was targeted outside the Gaddafi Stadium in&nbsp;Lahore.&nbsp;

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Sangakkara arrives in Lahore with his MCC team | Twitter/@ PCB</h6>

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The former Lankan wicketkeeper-captain will be leading the MCC (Marylebone Cricket Club) squad who are set to clash with Pakistan Super League's Lahore Qalandars in the first T20 match of the four-match tour.

The MCC will open their tour of Pakistan with a Twenty20 match in Lahore on Friday. The remaining matches of the tour will also be played in the city on February 16, 17 and 19.

The match will take place in the same Gaddafi Stadium, where the Sri Lankan team was attacked by terrorists&nbsp;in 2009 which left eight people dead.&nbsp;&nbsp;

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Whole Lankan team using&nbsp;Pak Army helicopter to get airlifted&nbsp;after 2009 attacks | AFP</h6>

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The 42-year-old himself was wounded after he suffered a shrapnel wound&nbsp;to his shoulder.&nbsp;He had a narrow escape after a bullet whistled past his head as the Sri Lankan players lay pinned down on the floor of the team bus.

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Sri Lankan spinner Ajanta Mendis injured&nbsp;during&nbsp;the attack in 2009 | AFP</h6>

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International cricket is only now slowly returning to normal in Pakistan.&nbsp;They hosted Sri Lanka late last year for their first home Test series since the 2009 attack.

According to Sangakkara who is also the president of MCC said that Pakistan is restoring its image as a safe destination for cricket.

After his arrival in Lahore on Thursday, he said: "Security is always a major concern everywhere in the world."

Kumar Sangakkara said: "I think the steps that have been taken in Pakistan over the past few years have instilled a great amount of confidence in the cricketing nations."

"I think slowly and surely that confidence is building up and the more times international sides tour, that message becomes stronger and harder to ignore," he added.&nbsp;

Cricketing great Sangakkara said that playing in Lahore will send out a powerful message.

Sri Lanka's cricket legend Kumar Sangakkara has returned to Pakistan for the first time since the 2009 terror attacks in which the Lankan national team was targeted outside the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.

Sri Lanka's cricket legend Kumar Sangakkara has returned to Pakistan for the first time since the 2009 terror attacks in which the Lankan national team was targeted outside the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. Sangakkara arrives in Lahore with his MCC team | Twitter/@ PCB The former Lankan wicketkeeper-captain will be leading the MCC (Marylebone Cricket Club) squad who are set to clash with Pakistan Super League's Lahore Qalandars in the first T20 match of the four-match tour. The MCC will open their tour of Pakistan with a Twenty20 match in Lahore on Friday. The remaining matches of the tour will also be played in the city on February 16, 17 and 19. The match will take place in the same Gaddafi Stadium, where the Sri Lankan team was attacked by terrorists in 2009 which left eight people dead. Whole Lankan team using Pak Army helicopter to get airlifted after 2009 attacks | AFP The 42-year-old himself was wounded after he suffered a shrapnel wound to his shoulder. He had a narrow escape after a bullet whistled past his head as the Sri Lankan players lay pinned down on the floor of the team bus. Sri Lankan spinner Ajanta Mendis injured during the attack in 2009 | AFP International cricket is only now slowly returning to normal in Pakistan. They hosted Sri Lanka late last year for their first home Test series since the 2009 attack. According to Sangakkara who is also the president of MCC said that Pakistan is restoring its image as a safe destination for cricket. After his arrival in Lahore on Thursday, he said: "Security is always a major concern everywhere in the world." Kumar Sangakkara said: "I think the steps that have been taken in Pakistan over the past few years have instilled a great amount of confidence in the cricketing nations." "I think slowly and surely that confidence is building up and the more times international sides tour, that message becomes stronger and harder to ignore," he added. Cricketing great Sangakkara said that playing in Lahore will send out a powerful message.

Kumar Sangakkara visits Lahore for first time after 2009 bus attack on Lankan team

The Sri Lankan cricket team arrived here, eight years after they suffered a gun and grenade attack, under heavy security to play the final Twenty20 International of a three-match series against Pakistan.

International cricket was suspended in Pakistan after the 2009 gun attack on the Sri Lankan team bus in Lahore, which left eight people killed and seven visiting players and their staff members injured.

Upon their arrival here last night, the Sri Lankan players and the officials were straightaway taken to a five- star hotel in a bomb-proof bus with hundreds of elite police commandos and the paramilitary rangers providing high-level security.

Several Lankan players and officials, including the survivors who came under gunfire in 2009 and their head coach, had opted out of the Twenty20 fixture after some voiced concern about security.

The 24-member strong Sri Lankan contingent became the first major international team to visit the country since the incident.

In the last eight years, Pakistan have only managed to get minnows Zimbabwe to tour Lahore in 2015, besides hosting the final of Pakistan Super League and a three-match Twenty20 series against a World XI, comprised of players from seven countries, earlier this year.

The attack on the Sri Lankan team led to international teams refusing to tour Pakistan and the ICC also relocated all matches of the 2011 World Cup, which were to be held in Pakistan, because no one was willing to play in the country.

Sri Lanka has played two Tests, five One-day Internationals and the first two Twenty20 matches of the series in the United Arab Emirates, Pakistan&#39;s neutral venue since 2009.

But Sri Lanka agreed to travel to Pakistan for the third and final T20 match.

An hour before the Sri Lankans arrived from Abu Dhabi, the Pakistan team had also reached the city from Dubai.

Besides the team and officials, Sri Lanka&#39;s sports minister Dayasiri Jayasekera and Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) President Thilanga Sumathipala are also on the tour.

They were all greeted by fully armed elite commandos, Inspector-General of Punjab police, the Lahore Mayor, top ranking Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) officials and other government dignitaries on the runaway and within no time were whisked away in bulletproof vehicles to their hotel from the terminal.

All the roads from the airport to the hotel were sealed off and one hour before the Sri Lankan team was due to land, the security forces had cordoned off all entrances and exit points at the airport.

Mobile phone services were also temporarily suspended in the area, where the hotel is located.&nbsp;

The 24-member strong Sri Lankan contingent became the first major international team to visit the country since the 2009 gun attack on the Sri Lankan team bus in Lahore

The Sri Lankan cricket team arrived here, eight years after they suffered a gun and grenade attack, under heavy security to play the final Twenty20 International of a three-match series against Pakistan. International cricket was suspended in Pakistan after the 2009 gun attack on the Sri Lankan team bus in Lahore, which left eight people killed and seven visiting players and their staff members injured. Upon their arrival here last night, the Sri Lankan players and the officials were straightaway taken to a five- star hotel in a bomb-proof bus with hundreds of elite police commandos and the paramilitary rangers providing high-level security. Several Lankan players and officials, including the survivors who came under gunfire in 2009 and their head coach, had opted out of the Twenty20 fixture after some voiced concern about security. The 24-member strong Sri Lankan contingent became the first major international team to visit the country since the incident. In the last eight years, Pakistan have only managed to get minnows Zimbabwe to tour Lahore in 2015, besides hosting the final of Pakistan Super League and a three-match Twenty20 series against a World XI, comprised of players from seven countries, earlier this year. The attack on the Sri Lankan team led to international teams refusing to tour Pakistan and the ICC also relocated all matches of the 2011 World Cup, which were to be held in Pakistan, because no one was willing to play in the country. Sri Lanka has played two Tests, five One-day Internationals and the first two Twenty20 matches of the series in the United Arab Emirates, Pakistan's neutral venue since 2009. But Sri Lanka agreed to travel to Pakistan for the third and final T20 match. An hour before the Sri Lankans arrived from Abu Dhabi, the Pakistan team had also reached the city from Dubai. Besides the team and officials, Sri Lanka's sports minister Dayasiri Jayasekera and Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) President Thilanga Sumathipala are also on the tour. They were all greeted by fully armed elite commandos, Inspector-General of Punjab police, the Lahore Mayor, top ranking Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) officials and other government dignitaries on the runaway and within no time were whisked away in bulletproof vehicles to their hotel from the terminal. All the roads from the airport to the hotel were sealed off and one hour before the Sri Lankan team was due to land, the security forces had cordoned off all entrances and exit points at the airport. Mobile phone services were also temporarily suspended in the area, where the hotel is located.

After 8 years, Sri Lankan cricket team arrive in Lahore amid tight security

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Kumar Sangakkara visits Lahore for first time after 2009 bus attack on Lankan team

After 8 years, Sri Lankan cricket team arrive in Lahore amid tight security