The Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) Board of Directors on Wednesday confirmed that the ongoing tour of Pakistan will continue as planned after several players expressed a desire to return home due to safety concerns.
In a statement, the SLC clarified that if a player wishes to return to Sri Lanka despite the assurance, he will be replaced in a bid to ensure the continuation of the current series without interruption, but the player will have to undergo a formal assessment by the cricket board on his actions.
The statement comes after at least eight Sri Lankan cricketers expressed reluctance to continue playing the ongoing three-match ODI series, followed by a T20I tri-series against Pakistan and Zimbabwe, due to security concerns, a Sri Lankan official said. AFP.
Players expressed fears for their safety following Tuesday’s suicide attack in Islamabad, which left 12 people dead and 27 injured outside a court. Among the victims were lawyers and petitioners who came to court.
The Sri Lanka Cricket Committee, in the statement, said that the team management had informed the committee earlier in the day that some members of the national team had requested to leave Pakistan.
The board said it immediately contacted the players, assuring them that all security issues were being addressed in close coordination with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and relevant authorities.
The board ordered all players, support staff and team management to remain in Pakistan and continue the tour as planned.
However, SLC clarified that if a player or team member nevertheless chose to return home, replacements would be sent quickly to ensure the series continued without interruption.
The cricket board also warned that any player or staff who defied the directive would be subject to formal review after the end of the tour, with disciplinary action to be decided accordingly.
Following reservations expressed by the Sri Lankan cricketer, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said security around the visiting team had been beefed up following the attack.
To address these concerns, CPC Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who is also the Interior Minister, will meet the Sri Lankan team to brief them about the security arrangements in place, sources revealed.
Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by six runs in the first one-day international in Rawalpindi on Tuesday, a match which went ahead despite the suicide attack in the twin city of Islamabad.
The remaining matches are scheduled to take place on Thursday and Saturday, also in Rawalpindi.
CPC chief meets Sri Lankan envoy
The development came hours after the Sri Lankan high commissioner expressed satisfaction over the security of his men’s national team following a meeting with Naqvi in Islamabad.
The satisfaction was expressed during his meeting with Home Minister and PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, the cricket board said in a statement on Wednesday.
The two team leaders, PCB Operations Director Sameer Ahmed, Islamabad Chief Commissioner and Islamabad Police Chief were also present on the occasion, the statement said.
During the meeting, the Chief Commissioner and IGP Islamabad gave a detailed briefing on providing security to the Sri Lankan team.
Speaking on the occasion, Naqvi said that the players of the Sri Lanka cricket team are “our state guests and all necessary measures have been taken for their foolproof safety”.
He stressed that providing a safe environment for visiting players is the government’s top priority.
In response, the Sri Lankan High Commissioner expressed solidarity with the government following the attack and offered his sincere condolences to the bereaved families. He also expressed satisfaction over the security arrangements made for the team.
