On Wednesday (11th September) afternoon, the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has announced the 14-member inexperienced ODI and T20I squads for the upcoming Pakistan tour. However, suddenly, the future of this tour has come under the dark cloud after the SLC has received a warning message of a possible terrorist threat.
Read More: India Vs South Africa 2019/20: Rain Can Interrupt The Match Predicts MET
Recently, the SLC has received a warning message from the Prime Minister’s Office, sent via the Ministry of Telecommunication, Foreign Employment and Sports. That warning has claimed that there is a possible threat of terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan team during their forthcoming Pakistan tour.
The SLC press release stated, “Accordingly, the warning highlights that the Prime Minister’s Office has received reliable information of a possible terrorist threat on the Sri Lankan team, while touring Pakistan.”
After this warning message, the SLC has decided to reassess the present security situation in Pakistan before their tour.
Pakistan Cricket Board had a wish to organise a Test match against Sri Lanka
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) wanted to host at least a Test match against Sri Lanka on the Pakistan soil. Originally, they had the two-match Test series programme in UAE in October 2019. The Test series is also the part of the ICC World Test Championship 2019-21.
But, after the security assessment, the SLC agreed to play only the limited-overs series on the Pakistan soil. Though the original schedule for the limited-overs series was in December 2019 in UAE, finally both agreed to switch the schedule of Test series with the limited-overs series.
According to the revised-schedule, Pakistan will host the three-match ODI and three-match T20I series from 27th September to 9th October. National Stadium (Karachi) is ready to host all the ODIs. On the other hand, they will play all the T20I matches at Gadaffi Stadium (Lahore).
However, ten Sri Lankan cricketers have withdrawn themselves from this Pakistan tour. The big names like Lasith Malinga, Dimuth Karunaratne and Angelo Mathews are present in this opt-out.
Finally, the SLC has named the full ODI and T20I squads for the upcoming Pakistan tour. Lahiru Thirimanne will lead the ODI side and Dasun Shanaka will play the T20I captain role.
But, this tour is now doubtful after the recent warning message.
In March 2009, the Sri Lankan cricket team bus faced a terrorist attack at Lahore. Apart from some injuries, all the Sri Lankan players returned home safely. Since then, Pakistan hasn’t organised a Test match yet while they have managed to organise some limited-overs matches from 2015.
Read More: “We Are Still Having Small Conversations About It,” Kane Williamson on World Cup Defeat
Pakistan has organised three ODIs and nine T20Is since 2015, including the only T20I against Sri Lanka. Gaddafi Stadium (Lahore) hosted that only T20I against Sri Lanka on 29th October 2017, and Pakistan won by 36 runs.