Sri Lanka tour Pakistan gets the go ahead from Sri Lankan government

Sri Lankan Cricket team’s tour to Pakistan is set to go ahead according to schedule after Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) confirmed that they are happy with the ‘reaffirmation’ about security from Pakistan Government. The team will be afforded visiting heads of state-level security.

“The Pakistan High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, on behalf of the Pakistan Government, has reaffirmed to the Sri Lankan government Pakistan’s desire to provide the Sri Lankan National Team with the same level of security as that provided to a head of state,” SLC Secretary Mohan De Silva stated.

Last week, there were concerns that the tour might not happen after a warning of a terror attack was received by the Sri Lankan Prime Minister’s office. However, PCB and the Pakistan government assured the Sri Lankan government that the team will be provided head-state-level security. Pakistan high commissioner to Sri Lanka worked with the Sri Lankan Defence Secretary.

Sarfaraz retained as captain for the Sri Lanka series

An SLC release stated that the ministry of defence had given the go-ahead for the tour after there was no information with regards to any threat to the Sri Lankan National team.

“[The] Government of Pakistan will ensure the highest consideration of security to [the] visiting cricket team”, “[The] Pakistan Army will coordinate the security arrangements” and “Security protocol will be compatible to [a] Head of State,” the release stated.

PCB had been working towards hosting the series at home as they announced the team and work on the stadiums had also started. This will be the longest bilateral series in Pakistan since the attack on the Sri Lankan team in 2009. Three ODIs will be played in Karachi, while Lahore will host three T20Is.