Lankan cricketers still on the fence
Sri Lanka toured Pakistan in 2017 under a heavy security blanket
Amidst fears that players will refuse to go for the scheduled limited-over series in Pakistan, a decade after the Sri Lankan team was ambushed by gunmen, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) will given them a thorough brief on security measures in place to woo them into honouring its commitment to a friendly neighbour nation.
Sports Minister Harin Fernando on Friday told reporters that several players have voiced their concerns to him, indicating a possible player pull-out like in 2017. He did not elaborate but said he expects the board to address these concerns through dialogue as they concerned personal security.
In 2017, Sri Lankan cricketers played a single T20 match in Lahore despite a number of high profile pull-outs that had forced the authorities to send a weakened team under Thisara Perera for the three-match series. Sri Lanka lost the series 3-0. A similar protest is looming, although Pakistan has promised the sort of “foolproof security” accorded to top VIPs.
“So far, there have not been any complaints from anyone,” said Ashley de Silva, CEO.
“At the end of the current series, we will name a 30-man squad for the series and will brief them on the tour and all arrangement in place to ensure their safety.”
This presentation will be made by SLC’s Chief Security Consultant, Air Force Commander Marshal Roshan Goonetilleke, who visited Lahore and Karachi a few weeks ago for an assessment.
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has been urging SLC to play the two-match Test series in there. It will be a huge boost as no Test cricket has been played there since the attack on the Sri Lankan team bus. But SLC has agreed only to a limited-over leg spread over two weeks (3 ODIs and 3 T20s).
De Silva said SLC made that decision after careful consideration of all factors, giving highest priority to player safety.
“We have carefully assessed the situation before reaching this decision and I am sure the players will reciprocate,” he emphasised.
“At no point will we compromise their safety. If there had been any doubt, we wouldn’t have gone ahead.”
Marshal Goonethileke will also travel and remain with the team during the tour. While Pakistan has hosted a few international limited-over matches since the 2009 incident which injured at least six Sri Lankan players en route to Gaddafi Stadium, no team has visited to play the longer format despite repeated PCB appeals.
“If they have concerns, they could bring them to the notice of the management but I am sure they will honour our commitment,” De Silva said.
Even if all others agree–which is highly unlikely–seamer Suranga Lakmal is expected to pull out. Lakmal was playing his maiden series when the tragic attack took place and was one of the six to have suffered injuries.
In 2015, a suicide blast outside Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium killed one person as the Zimbabwe team played against Pakistan in the first ODI featuring an international team since the 2009 attack, showing that the place is still vulnerable. Pakistan recently hosted a three-match T20 series between Pakistan and World XI in a bid to revive international cricket but the memories of their ill-fated tour still linger in the minds of Sri Lankan players.