At least eight Sri Lankan cricketers will return home without playing in the tri-nation white-ball cricket series against Pakistan and Zimbabwe due to security concerns, a Sri Lankan official said on Wednesday.
Twelve people were killed and 36 were injured in a suicide blast outside the district and sessions court building in Islamabad’s G-11 area. The incident occurred as international events were being hosted in the capital, including the first one-day international (ODI) match between Pakistan and Sri Lanka in Rawalpindi.
Following the bombing, Sri Lankan players expressed fears for their safety.
“The second ODI against Pakistan tomorrow is in doubt, but substitute players will be sent to continue the tri-nation series,” a Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) source told AFP.
SLC president Shammi Silva said that the board was preparing a formal statement about continuing their participation in the tournament. He gave no further details.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said that security around the visiting team had been increased following the attack, and Sri Lankan High Commissioner Rear Admiral (retired) Fred Seneviratne expressed satisfaction with security arrangements for the team during a meeting today with Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, who is also the PCB chairman.
The remaining matches are scheduled to take place on Thursday and Saturday, in Rawalpindi.
Pertinent to note is that the Sri Lanka team was the victim of a terrorist attack during a Test match in Lahore in March 2009. The attack left eight people dead, besides injuring seven Sri Lankan players and their assistant coach.
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