Many Sri Lankan players are preparing to leave Pakistan.Image Credit source: PTI
The suicide attack in Pakistan’s capital Islamabad also seems to be affecting the tour of Sri Lankan cricket team. Many players of the Sri Lankan team, which reached Pakistan for the ODI series, are deeply frightened by this blast and are worried about their safety. Reports are coming that many players are leaving the Pakistan tour midway and preparing to return back to Sri Lanka. But at a time when Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) should have supported its players, the board threatened the entire team. The board has ordered the players to stay in Pakistan and has said that action will be taken against anyone who does not obey the order.
On Wednesday 12th November, news of many Sri Lankan cricketers leaving Pakistan started coming. Some local reports claimed that about 8 to 10 players, worried about their safety, had decided to return to their country. It is reported that Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman and the country’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi tried to assure the Sri Lankan players of tight security but it failed and even before the second match of the series on Thursday 13 November, the players had decided to leave the tour midway.
But late last night, Sri Lanka Cricket issued a shocking statement and decided to put the lives of its players at risk. SLC said in its statement that the players will be given complete security and there is no need to worry. The board said in its statement that it is in constant touch with the PCB and on this tour, full care is being taken for the safety of every member of the team, from players to support staff.
The board said in its order that all the players and support staff will have to stay in Pakistan and complete the series and if any member returns, the board will make arrangements to send other players in their place. But the most shocking aspect of this statement came at the end. SLC also threatened its players with action. “If any player, multiple players or support staff members return despite SLC orders, an official review process will be initiated against their actions and appropriate action will be taken following this review,” SLC wrote.
The first match of the ODI series was played between Pakistan and Sri Lanka on Tuesday 11 November. This match was played in Rawalpindi, which is a city connected to the capital Islamabad. A few hours before this match, a suicide bomber had detonated a car outside the court in Islamabad, killing at least 12 people. Although, at that time the first match of the series was played without any problem, but from the very next day the Sri Lankan cricketers started worrying about the security.
(News is being updated)