Published 16:58 IST, September 19th 2019
Sri Lankan Cricket Team Gets Green Light For Pakistan Tour
On Thursday, the Sri Lankan Cricket Board announced its decision that the team would go for the Pakistan tour, despite the threat of terror attacks on the team.
On Thursday, the Sri Lankan Cricket Board announced its decision that the team would go for the Pakistan tour as planned, despite the threat that the players could be targets of terror attacks during the visit. The six-match tour is scheduled to begin on September 27.
Sri Lankan Team Gets Green Light
Sri Lanka Cricket Secretary Mohan de Silva said that they have received an all-clear from the defence ministry to leave for the Tour of Pakistan. "We have the green light from the defence ministry," said de Silva. "The tour is on as planned. I myself and our office bearers will also accompany the Sri Lankan team to Pakistan," he added.
Earlier, ten senior players of Sri Lankan cricket team opted out of the tour citing security concerns. This came after the country's Prime Minister office warned the board that it had received unspecified information about a possible attack against its players. The players who were a part of the preliminary squad announced for the tour were then given a chance to decide if they wanted to go. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said it was not aware of any information relating to the safety of the Sri Lankan team, but re-assured its commitment to provide proper security to the visitors.
Pakistan Isolated By International Cricket Teams
Pakistan has been an insolated destination for International Cricket with the country's home matches being held in Dubai post the 2009 attack. During a test match at Lahore in March 2009, the Sri Lankan cricket team bus was attacked by gunmen and six players were injured. Six policemen and two civilians were killed in the attack and since then all international cricket teams have refused to tour the country. However, Sri Lanka played its first match post the attack, in October 2017 which was a T20I in Lahore.
Sri Lanka has already announced its team for both, the three One-Day Internationals and three T20 matches as well.
Sri Lanka's Tour Of Pakistan Schedule:
1st ODI -- Karachi, September 27
2nd ODI -- Karachi, September 29
3rd ODI -- Karachi, October 2
1st T20 -- Lahore, October 5
2nd T20 -- Lahore, October 7
3rd T20 -- Lahore, October 9
Updated 18:25 IST, September 19th 2019