Pakistan celebrate a wicket during the second T20I against Sri Lanka 

Lahore?s Gaddafi Stadium is all set to witness the return of top-flight cricket after a drought of eight years, as Pakistan and Sri Lanka face off in the third and final T20I tonight.

Pakistan already lead the T20I series 2-0, after beating Sri Lanka by seven wickets in the opening game and winning a last-ball thriller in the second T20I. Today's match, however, is much more than just a game of cricket.

The occasion marks the homecoming of top-level international cricket as Sri Lanka become the first major cricket team to visit Pakistan since they were targeted in a deadly ambush in 2009 -- with attack survivors among those returning to the scene.

Tens of thousands of security personnel have been deployed in Lahore for the occasion. They will guard routes to the stadium, and air surveillance and intelligence monitoring is also in place as Pakistan rolls out head-of-state level measures.

In Pictures: Gaddafi Stadium gets ready to witness history

Preparations in full swing at Gaddafi Stadium as the venue gets ready to welcome Sri Lankan team

Although some Sri Lankan players and officials, including their head coach, opted out of the T20 fixture, Asanka Gurusinha and Hashan Tillakaratne, who came under gunfire in 2009 and are now Sri Lanka´s team manager and batting coach, will be with the squad as it is shuttled in and out of Gaddafi Stadium under heavy guard.

Pakistan?s Ahsan Raza, a reserve umpire in 2009 who was among those shot, will also be on the field.

PCB chairman Najam Sethi has hailed the match as a "historic moment", pointing out that a generation of fans in the cricket-mad country have grown up without seeing any international games in their home stadiums.

Nation welcomes Sri Lankan team ahead of landmark T20

Cricketers, former greats, politicians and fans come together to welcome and thank Sri Lankan team

Sunday?s match will start at 6:00pm (PST); the start time has been brought forward by an hour due to prevailing weather and dew conditions in Lahore. The ceremonies will commence at 5pm, Sethi tweeted earlier today.

Injury doubts loom over young bowling sensation Usman Khan Shinwari, who is suffering from a side strain which has made his inclusion in today?s playing XI doubtful, sources close to the matter said.

Fellow pacer Mohammad Amir, who has recovered from a shin injury he picked during the Test series against Sri Lanka, is likely to fill in for Shinwari.

Current members of the Pakistan squad, along with former greats, politicians and fans extended a warm welcome to the Sri Lankan team, which reached Lahore from UAE overnight.

Veteran all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez took to Twitter to express his excitement for the historic match.

Shoaib Malik couldn't hold back his excitement for the match. 

Prior to tonight?s game, Lahore successfully hosted this year´s Pakistan Super League final and the Independence Cup series between Pakistan and World XI last month.

Squads

Pakistan: Sarfraz Ahmed (c & wk), Fakhar Zaman, Ahmed Shehzad, Babar Azam, Shoaib Malik, Mohammad Hafeez, Imad Wasim, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Ali, Aamer Yamin, Mohammad Amir, Rumman Raees, Usman Shinwari, Umar Amin

Sri Lanka: Thisara Perera (c), Dilshan Munaweera, Danushka Gunathilaka, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Ashan Priyanjan, Mahela Udawatte, Dasun Shanaka, Sachith Pathirana, Vikum Sanjaya, Lahiru Gamage, Seekkuge Prasanna, Vishwa Fernando, Isuru Udana, Jeffrey Vandersay and Chathuranga de Silva, Minod Bhanuka.