Sri Lanka has shown great courage to help Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) in bringing back Test cricket to Pakistan, as they became the first touring side to visit the country for the first Test tour despite a fatal militant attack on their team in 2009.

Before the ongoing two-match Test series, the Islanders also toured Pakistan for a limited-overs series and paved the way for international cricket and now they again extended helping hands to revive Test cricket in the country after 10 years.

However, the Islanders came with a second-string squad last time, but their successful visit inspired the core team, who had refused to travel Pakistan for a limited-overs series in September due to security concerns, to travel Karachi and Rawalpindi for two Tests.

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Following the drawn first Test in Rawalpindi, Sri Lanka’s Test captain Dimuth Karunaratne has declared Pakistan as a safe country for cricket and even regrets pulling out of the last tour.

Ahead of the Karachi Test starting Thursday, Karunaratne told media: “Now I do regret not coming for the shorter formats. At that time it was a really hard decision to take because I had heard and read lots of things about Pakistan on news and social media - not positive things. But the guys who came here before gave really good comments and that's why all the seniors decided to go and play a good Test series. Now I think I should have come and played the one-dayers.”

Taking further steps towards hosting Test matches regularly in Pakistan, the PCB has confirmed that an MCC team led by Kumar Sangakkara will undertake a Test tour of the country in February 2020.

The latest development could inspire Bangladesh players to change their mind for Pakistan tour as they are refusing to visit the country for Test series, though, Karunaratne didn’t comment on their decision but said the country is now safe for the game.

Karunaratne signed off by saying, “I can't appeal to Bangladesh about whether they should come, but what I can say is that for me it feels really safe. The guys who are giving us security, they are giving us not just 100% but more than 100%. That's why we feel really good. We went out for dinner as well. I can say that Pakistan is now safe for cricket.”

(With Espncricinfo Inputs)