Sri Lankan players leave Pakistan tour after Islamabad bombing
Sri Lanka captain Charith Asalanka and fast bowler Asitha Fernando returned home from Pakistan on Monday, citing illness, in a development that casts doubt over the touring side’s participation in a T20 tri-series set to begin Tuesday. The withdrawal comes just days after a deadly suicide bombing in Islamabad raised security concerns among the squad.
The two players will miss the seven-match tri-series featuring Pakistan and Zimbabwe, which was scheduled to begin November 18 at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. Sri Lanka Cricket announced Dasun Shanaka would take over captaincy duties, with Pavan Rathnayake joining the squad as a replacement for Fernando
Security Concerns Follow Deadly Attack
The players’ departure follows a November 10 suicide bombing outside Islamabad’s District Judicial Complex that killed 12 people and injured 27 others. Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, a faction of the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, claimed responsibility for the attack, which occurred less than 10 kilometers from the hotel where the Sri Lankan team was staying.
According to reports, several Sri Lankan cricketers had initially requested to return home after the blast, prompting Sri Lanka Cricket to issue a stern warning of disciplinary action. Pakistan Interior Minister and Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Mohsin Naqvi personally met with the players to provide security assurances, while Pakistan’s Army Chief Asim Munir spoke directly with Sri Lankan Defense Minister Pramitha Bandara Tennakoon.
“The Field Marshal himself spoke to the Sri Lankan Defense Minister and Secretary,” Naqvi said, adding that Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake also encouraged the team to continue the tour.
Tour Continues Under Military Protection
Following the intervention, Pakistan deployed army and paramilitary forces to provide presidential-level security for the visiting team. The second and third ODIs were each delayed by a day, and the entire tri-series was moved to Rawalpindi, with Lahore abandoned as a venue.
Despite the heightened security, Pakistan completed a 3-0 ODI series sweep over Sri Lanka on November 16, with Mohammad Rizwan and Fakhar Zaman guiding the hosts to a six-wicket victory in the final match.
The incident revived painful memories of the 2009 Lahore attack, when masked gunmen opened fire on the Sri Lankan team bus, wounding six players and killing eight people. That attack led to a nearly decade-long absence of international cricket in Pakistan.
Sri Lanka Cricket emphasized that the players’ departure was a “precautionary decision” to ensure they receive proper medical care ahead of future assignments. The board did not specify the nature of the illness affecting Asalanka and Fernando.
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