Island’s President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has stepped in to resolve the security concerns raised by Sri Lanka’s touring squad in Pakistan following the Islamabad suicide blast.
Accordingly, Defence Secretary Sampath Thuiyakontha held urgent talks with Pakistan’s top security officials, while PCB Chairman and interim Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi met the players last night to reassure them.
With enhanced security measures now in place, the ODIs have been rescheduled to Friday and Sunday, and the T20I tri-series will begin in Rawalpindi on the 18th
Yesterday, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) told its players of strict actions if they choose to pull out of the ongoing tour of Pakistan in the aftermath of a bomb blast in Islamabad. It came after Several members of the Sri Lankan squad informed their cricket board that they are unwilling to continue with the tour, citing security fears.
Amid the rising security concerns, SLC has also assured its players of heightened security measures being taken by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the relevant authorities to ensure the safety and well-being of every member of the touring party.
In a statement, SLC has expressed its strong willingness to continue with the tour as scheduled and said that if any player chooses to pull out of the tour will be duly replaced.
“Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) was informed by the team management this morning that several members of the national team currently touring Pakistan have requested to return home, citing safety concerns. Following this development, SLC immediately engaged with the players and assured them that all such concerns are being duly addressed in close coordination with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the relevant authorities to ensure the safety and well-being of every member of the touring party,” said SLC in a media release.
The explosion occurred around 12.30 pm, during peak business hours, near the entrance of the Islamabad district court, causing panic among lawyers on the premises. The blast was reportedly so powerful that it could be heard up to six kilometres away.
Meanwhile, Pakistan lead the three-match series 1-0 after Salman Agha (105*) and Haris Rauf (4/61) starred in a narrow six-run victory in the first ODI.
