PCB Chief Thanks Sri Lanka for ‘Sportsmanship’ After Players’ Security Concerns Post-Islamabad Blast
RAWALPINDI: The white-ball cricket tour of Pakistan by the Sri Lanka men’s team is confirmed to continue, despite an official security scare following a bomb blast in Islamabad. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced a revised schedule for the remaining matches after the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) board ordered its players to stay and complete the tour.
PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi confirmed the decision and the updated schedule via a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday, expressing gratitude to the visiting team.
“Grateful to the Sri Lankan team for their decision to continue the Pakistan tour,” said Naqvi, adding that “The spirit of sportsmanship and solidarity shines bright.”
The uncertainty arose after an undisclosed number of Sri Lankan players expressed a desire to return home, citing security concerns following a recent deadly bomb blast in nearby Islamabad. The SLC acknowledged the request but immediately instructed all players and support staff to continue with the tour as scheduled.
To address the situation, the PCB and SLC agreed to a minor postponement of the remaining ODI fixtures.
The remaining two ODIs of the three-match series, which were originally scheduled for November 13 and 15, will now be played on Thursday, November 14, and Saturday, November 16.
All remaining matches will take place in Rawalpindi.
The ODI series will be followed by a T20I tri-series, which also features Zimbabwe.
Sri Lanka Cricket issued a strong statement confirming its decision to proceed, noting that it had engaged with the players and assured them that their concerns were being addressed in close coordination with the PCB and relevant authorities.
The SLC further clarified that any player who chose to abandon the tour despite the directive would be immediately replaced to ensure the continuation of the series. Moreover, the returning player would face a “formal review… to assess their actions,” suggesting potential disciplinary action.
The firm stance by the SLC, combined with high-level security assurances from PCB Chairman Naqvi (who is also Pakistan’s Federal Interior Minister), stabilized the situation, preventing the tour from being abandoned—a major blow that Pakistan cricket has sought to avoid since the 2009 attack on the Sri Lankan team bus.
