continued refusal of senior Sri Lankan players including captain Dimuth Karunaratne, Lasith Malinga and Angelo Matws to tour Pakistan for a limited over series later this month has left PCB authorities worried. Though Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has made official comment on senior Sri Lanka players' availability, sources in board said y are in touch with Sri Lankan board officials and Sports Minister Harin Fernando. Sri Lankan officials had reportedly made several trips to Pakistan to ensure security arrangements made for ir players. However, despite multiple level clearances, senior Sri Lankan players have expressed inconveniences in travelling to Pakistan, fearing terror strikes and security lapses. 

"Technically it is an internal matter of Sri Lankan board so we can't comment on it. But bottom line is that tour is on from 25th September and we are making all preparations to host m in Karachi and Lahore," an official source said.

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Sri Lankan players refuse to travel to Pakistan

He said Pakistan would accept whatever team Sri Lankan board sends for three One-day Internationals and three T20s. Media reports have claimed that Test and ODI captain Karunaratne, T20 captain Malinga and senior pro-Matws have informed Sri Lankan board y will t tour Pakistan because of security concerns. families of three players are said to be uncomfortable with prospect of m playing in Pakistan which is understandable since it was in March, 2009 that terrorists attacked Sri Lankan team bus in Lahore, leading to Pakistan's isolation as as an international cricket destination. A source in PCB said that Sri Lankan Sports Minister had called three players for a meeting on Monday in which y would be assured of full security arrangements to be made for tour.

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Pakistan's attempt to revive cricket at home

Fernando himself has offered to tour with team from September 25 to October 9. But it is obvious that neir Minister r Sri Lankan board can force any player to make tour. For first time since 2009, PCB is preparing to host a top tier team for a proper bilateral series that involves ODI and T20 series. Sri Lankan team had come down to Lahore for a day to play a lone T20 match in October, 2017 while ICC World Eleven and West Indies have also played short T20 series in Pakistan in last two years. But this is first time in 10 years, a top team will be in Pakistan for more than two weeks. Sri Lankan and Pakistan boards agreed to limited over series after former initially rejected a request to play two games of ICC World Test Championship in Pakistan. Sri Lankans are set to review security arrangements for coming limited over series based on which y would n take a decision on wher to play Tests in December in Pakistan or in UAE.

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