Sri Lanka limited-overs skipper Upul Tharanga has decided not to tour Pakistan for the T20I match in Lahore scheduled later in the month owing to security reasons.
The southpaw’s decision to pull out of the tour also makes him ineligible to lead the first two games of the series. Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) had earlier stated that only one team would be picked to play the all three T20I’s against Pakistan.
As per reports in Cricbuzz, from the current squad playing the ODI series in UAE, only swashbuckling all-rounder Thisara Perera and two other players have agreed to travel to Lahore for the final T20I in Lahore.
In the absence of regular skipper Tharanga, Kusal Perera might lead the side for the three-match series. The wicket-keeper batsman is in the process of recovery after sustaining a hamstring injury back in June. As per sources close to Cricbuzz, Perera is expected to undergo an MRI scan, and if cleared he will be leading the side.
Dilshan Munaweera, Ashan Priyajan and Isuru Udana who regularly play for Sri Lanka in the shortest format have agreed to travel to Lahore for the final match, as the board tried to negotiate with other national players to tour the city in Pakistan.
A few days earlier a group of 40 players had given a letter to SLC President Thilanga Sumathipala revealing their unwillingness to tour Pakistan. Though some players have softened their stance to a considerable degree, most of them remain unwilling to travel to Lahore. The list also includes premier fast bowler Lasith Malinga.
Malinga hasn’t been included in the ODI squad, but Chairman of Selectors Graeme Labrooy had earlier stated that was looking to bring back Malinga for the T20 leg of the series. Malinga on Sunday raised his voice at the omission of all the players who were against touring Pakistan from the entire series.
Fast bowler Suranga Lakmal and middle-order batsman Chamara Kapugedera were part of the Sri Lankan team bus which was attacked by the militants in Lahore in 2009. While Lakmal has strongly opposed from touring Pakistan, Kapugedera might travel to Lahore.
