COLOMBO: Sri Lanka’s cricket board remains hopeful of going ahead with itstour of Pakistan but will await the final all-clear from the defenceministry, an official said Wednesday.
Sri Lanka Cricket Secretary Mohan de Silva said he was satisfied with thesecurity arrangements of their hosts, but reports last week of a possibleterror attack had been referred to the defence ministry for investigation.
The Sri Lanka team was the target of an attack during a Test match inPakistan’s Lahore in March 2009. Six Sri Lankan players were injured whengunmen attacked their bus. Six Pakistan policemen and two civilians werekilled.
Since the attack, a majority of international teams have refused to tourthe South Asian country.
Sri Lanka played one T20 match against Pakistan at Lahore in October 2017.
De Silva told AFP, “Earlier last month I visited Pakistan along with oursecurity consultant and we were satisfied with the arrangements.
“They have promised security reserved for a head of state.”
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The six-match tour, due to start on September 27, was put on hold last weekafter Sri Lanka’s prime minister’s office warned the board that it hadunspecified information about a possible attack against its players.
Sri Lanka Cricket did not call off the tour but instead asked thegovernment to reassess the security situation and make a finaldetermination about the fate of the tournament.linklink
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has said it was not aware of anyinformation relating to the safety of the Sri Lankan team but hasreiterated its commitment to provide security.
Ten senior players have opted out of tour citing security concerns.
Sri Lanka has already announced two squads for the three One-DayInternationals and the three T20 matches starting September 27. -APP/AFP
