Due to some undisclosed reasons, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has sent back two officers from the Ministers’ Security Division (MSD) to the Sri Lanka, Cricket Age reliably learns. The MSD officers were accompanied with the Sri Lanka team for their two match ODI series against Scotland in May.
According to sources, two officials were returned to Sri Lanka before national team’s first match in the world cup against New Zealand on June 1st.
On May 7, these MSD officers flied to UK with the national team after Sri Lanka Cricket Board (SLC) took it upon themselves to request additional security measures following last month’s Easter Sunday attacks to Sports Minister Harin Fernando.
“SLC made a special request for additional security, and as such we managed to procure some of the best officers from the MSD,” Sports Minister Harin Fernando had said at a media briefing on May 2.
“The ICC has already beefed up security and these officers will be working closely with them. We had no issues granting SLC’s request as this is no time to take unnecessary risks.” he had added further.
Earlier, Sri Lanka Cricket had sent out a media release voicing the need to take additional precautions in wake of the attacks on churches and hotels which killed over 250 people injured 500 more. Sri Lanka has previously relied solely on tournament security during ICC events.
“In the wake of recent tragic incidents took place in the country, SLC decided to take additional measures to strengthen the security of the national team taking part in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 in England and Wales. SLC is working on the matter in consultation with the Ministry of Sports and the International Cricket Council,” stated the release.
