To put all the rumors and concerns aside, Sri Lanka Cricket Board in a positive move has decided after the conclusion of ExCo meeting to send the team to Lahore for the third t20 match. Also Sri Lanka shorter formats captain Upul Tharanga has pulled out of the Lahore T20I, so he won’t be eligible to be picked for the entire series. Selectors will announced Preliminary 22 players squad tomorrow, and the final squad of 15 players will be announced on 20th October, Cricket Age has learnt.
In last three days, there were lot of doubts about the scheduled third t20 match, as Sri Lanka players have raised their concern about playing in Lahore. Approximately 28 players have also written to SLC, about their reservations.
But, after ICC cleared the security concerns regarding the match and announced to send match officials, Sri Lanka Cricket Board, in the ExCo meeting today, also decided to send the team and support Pakistan Cricket.
The Sri Lanka team support staff, includs four former International players Manager-cum-selector-cum-administrator Asanka Gurusinha, Coach Nic Pothas, batting Coach Hashan Tilankaratne and bowling Coach Rumesh Ratnayake, have already expressed their willingness to travel Lahore.
Sri Lanka Cricket Board Statement :
Sri Lanka Cricket today (16) confirmed its commitment to play the third and final T20 game of the ongoing Sri Lanka tour of Pakistan at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, Pakistan on the 29th of October.
SLC have over the past two months conducted a thorough evaluation with the assistance of the Government of Sri Lanka, the Government of Pakistan, the PCB and independent Security experts and The Executive Committee today (16), evaluated the reports obtained together with the recommendation of the International Cricket Council – which successfully conducted the Independence Cup tournament in Lahore fielding a World XI Team – and having been fully satisfied with the stringent security measures in place, the SLC ExCo unanimously decided to play the 3rd T20 in Lahore on the 29th October.
Accordingly, the Selections Committee of SLC will finalize a squad of 22 by the 17th October, and announce the final 15 on the 20th October.
SLC President, Hon. Thilanga Sumathipala who will accompany the team to Lahore, extended his best wishes to PCB Chairman Najam Sethi and his board on the occasion of this historic game, which is set to bring back bilateral cricket to Pakistan.
