The Sri Lanka Cricket Board (SLC) Thursday wrote to defence ministry asking for a directive for the national team’s proposed tour of Pakistan for ODI and T20I series, Cricket Age reliably learns.
The SLC revealed on Wednesday that they received a warning that their national team could be the target of a terror attack during the upcoming six-match tour of Pakistan. The board said that their Prime Minister’s Office had advised it to “reassess the situation” after it received “reliable information of a possible terrorist threat” against the national squad ahead of the six-match limited overs tour.
“Before deciding anything on the tour, we have asked from the defence ministry to give us a directive for the proposed tour. We have written to defence secratary on this” a senior SLC administrator told Cricket Age.
The Sri Lanka team was the victim of a militant attack during a Test match in Pakistan’s Lahore in March 2009. Six Sri Lankan players were injured when gunmen attacked their bus while six Pakistan policemen and two civilians were killed.
Ten senior players have already opted out of the upcoming tour citing security concerns. Since the 2009 attack, a majority of international teams have refused to tour the South Asian country.
“We are determined to help Pakistan Cricket Board in bringing back international cricket in the country, as they have always helped us. In next few days, President Mr. Shammi Silva is also likely to visit Pakistan and discuss the matter further with PCB. but, it all depends on the directive of the defence ministry” the senior administrator added further.
Sri Lanka and Pakistan are scheduled to play three ODI matches at Karachi National Stadium on September 27, 29 and October 2.
After ODI series, Sri Lanka are scheduled to play three T20I matches on October 5, 7 and 9. Later, Sri Lanka will host Pakistan for two tests in late December.
