At least eight Sri Lankan cricketers have decided to withdraw from their tri-nation white-ball cricket series against Pakistan and Zimbabwe due to safety concerns stemming from recent violence in Islamabad. A Sri Lankan official confirmed this development on Wednesday.
The players voiced their fears following a suicide bombing in the Pakistani capital on Tuesday, which claimed the lives of 12 individuals and injured 27 others near a courthouse. As a result, the scheduled second ODI against Pakistan is now uncertain. To ensure the continuation of the tri-nation series, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) plans to send in substitute players.
SLC president Shammi Silva mentioned that the organization is preparing an official statement regarding their ongoing participation in the tournament, but he did not provide additional details at this time. The decision comes in light of past incidents, notably a 2009 attack where six Sri Lankan players were injured when armed assailants targeted their team bus in Lahore, leading to a prolonged absence of international teams from Pakistan.
Despite the security concerns, the opening one-day international match on Tuesday still took place in Rawalpindi, where Pakistan narrowly defeated Sri Lanka by six runs. In response to the suicide attack, the Pakistan Cricket Board has heightened security measures around the visiting team.
Looking ahead, the remaining matches in the series are scheduled for Thursday and Saturday, also set to occur in Rawalpindi. The situation remains fluid as both teams navigate the challenges posed by the ongoing security issues.