LAHORE - The Pakistan Cricket Board has promised foolproof security to the visiting Sri Lankan team, which is expected to arrive here on January 19, 2009, in place of the India team. The Sri Lankan team's tour to Pakistan was doubt after their government sacked the Arjuna Ranatunga-led board and its sports minister was asked to control the cricket affairs. After that development there were reports that their team would only take the tour after the governments clearance and finally on Friday Sri Lankan president allowed its team take the tour. A PCB official said that the team will be extended state-level security and arrangements are being looked into to make the series exciting. Earlier, PCB chairman Ijaz Butt said that he was hopeful of the Sri Lanka's tour here next year. "I was certain that the tour would go-ahead as the island nation's Sports Minister Gamini Lokuge has assured him of the series getting the requisite government clearance. "Our High Commissioner has spoken to the Sports Minister who has assured him the tour is on but as per government policies, it has to be cleared by the Sri Lankan Foreign Ministry," Butt was quoted by a foreign news agency. He said Lokuge assured that the tour, starting January 20, was definitely on and only the formalities needed to be completed. "As is the usual practice the Sri Lankan Cricket authorities have to get security clearance from their Foreign Office. The Foreign Office will in turn will seek assurances from our government for proper security arrangements to be made for the series," he said. Pakistan invited Sri Lanka to play three Tests and five ODIs after India cancelled its confirmed tour to Pakistan in the wake of the Mumbai terror attacks. The former president of the Sri Lanka Cricket's interim committee Arjuna Ranatunga had agreed to replace India but after he and his committee were sacked last week by the Sports Minister, the tour was under a shadow of doubt.