COLOMBO – Sri Lanka’s cricket board said on Wednesday it had receivedwarnings its national team could be the target of a terror attack during anupcoming tour of Pakistan.
The board said the Sri Lankan Prime Minister’s Office had advised it to“reassess the situation” after it received “reliable information of apossible terrorist threat” against the national squad ahead of thesix-match limited overs tour.
It stopped short of calling off the tour, but said a reassessment of thesecurity situation would be sought from Sri Lankan government authorities.
The Sri Lanka team was the victim of a militant attack during a Test matchin Lahore in March 2009. Six Sri Lankan players were injured when gunmenattacked their bus while six Pakistan policemen and two civilians werekilled.
Ten senior players have already opted out of the upcoming tour citingsecurity concerns.
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The statement from Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) came a short while after theboard announced two squads for the three One-Day Internationals (ODIs) andthe three T20 matches starting September 27.
In response to the development, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) saidtoday, “We have seen the SLC statement but are not privy to any informationor intelligence report relating to safety of the Sri Lankan teams.”
“The PCB reiterates its commitment to provide complete safety and securityto the Sri Lankan side and in this regard will continue to work with theSLC,” the PCB said in an official statement. -APP/AFP
