Sri Lanka to continue Pakistan tour after security review

The Sri Lanka Cricket Board has said that if a player withdraws his name from the squad, his replacement will be given a badge.

The Sri Lankan Cricket Board has said that the ongoing tour will conclude as scheduled, following calls to cancel the series following a suicide bombing in the Pakistani capital Islamabad on Tuesday that killed 12 people and injured 27 others.

The Sri Lankan cricket team manager confirmed that “no players are going home”. He added that all players will remain in Pakistan.

In a statement, the Sri Lankan Cricket Board said that if any cricketer wants to return to Sri Lanka, he can go, but he will first be examined and then he will be able to go.

This statement came after the suicide blast at the Judicial Complex in Islamabad, which has spread panic.

The statement issued by the Sri Lanka Cricket Board further stated that on Wednesday morning, the team management informed the board that some team members wanted to leave Pakistan, upon which the board immediately contacted them and assured the players that the board was in touch with the Pakistan Cricket Board and relevant agencies on all security matters.

After this whole situation, the Sri Lankan Cricket Board has made it clear to the players that if any cricketer leaves Pakistan without the board’s permission, he will have to face action after the tour ends.

Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who is also Pakistan’s Interior Minister, also briefed the Sri Lankan team on security. In addition, Naqvi further said that the matches have been rescheduled and will now be played in Rawalpindi on September 14 and 16.