At least eight Sri Lankan cricketers are returning home from Pakistan due to growing concerns over security, a Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) official confirmed to the AFP news agency.
The decision has cast uncertainty over the remainder of the ongoing Pakistan–Sri Lanka ODI series and the upcoming tri-nation T20 series involving Zimbabwe.
On Tuesday, a suicide bombing outside a court complex in Pakistan’s capital, Islamabad, left 12 people dead and 27 others injured. The attack occurred only 17 kilometres from the Rawalpindi Stadium, the venue for the Pakistan–Sri Lanka ODI series.
The proximity of the attack to the match venue naturally alarmed the Sri Lankan players. In an attempt to reassure the visiting side, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman and the country’s interior minister, Mohsin Naqvi, met the team during the first ODI on Tuesday, promising them “foolproof” security. Additional security measures were taken, with both the Pakistan Army and paramilitary Rangers deployed to safeguard the players. Nevertheless, apprehension among the Sri Lankan cricketers reportedly persists.
An SLC source told AFP that Thursday’s second ODI was now “uncertain”, but added that replacement players could be sent to Pakistan soon to ensure the tri-nation series goes ahead as planned.
SLC president Shammi Silva said the board was preparing an official statement regarding the continuation of the tour but declined to provide further details.
Pakistan defeated Sri Lanka by six runs in the first ODI, played on Tuesday in Rawalpindi. The remaining two matches were scheduled for Thursday and Saturday at the same venue.
In March 2009, the Sri Lankan team bus was attacked by gunmen while on its way to a Test match at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium, injuring six players. That incident led to a six-year suspension of international cricket in Pakistan—a painful memory that still lingers for Sri Lankan cricket.