Sri Lanka players wanted to fly home; SLC says ‘no’ after Islamabad attack

A bit of a disturbing news made rounds last night after the Sri Lankan players wanted to leave Pakistan due to another blast in their capital city in Islamabad. Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has drawn criticism after forcing its players to stay on in Pakistan despite growing unease in the camp following a suicide blast in Islamabad. Several members of the touring squad had reportedly asked to return home, but the board refused, insisting the tour would go on as planned.

SL players express fear after Islamabad blast

The bombing, which occurred in a high-security zone of Islamabad on Tuesday, sent shockwaves through the Sri Lankan camp. Multiple players and members of the support staff reportedly approached the board, requesting permission to fly back home immediately. Sri Lanka have so far played only one of the three scheduled ODIs against Pakistan, with the next two fixtures originally slated for November 13 and 15 in Rawalpindi.

Late-night deliberations involving players, SLC officials, team management, and Pakistan security authorities failed to yield a compromise. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) eventually pushed both remaining ODIs back by a day, now to be played on November 14 and 16, to allow more time for coordination and reassurance.

SLC issues warning to players

Despite the unease, SLC doubled down in its official statement, warning players of disciplinary consequences if they defied instructions and returned home without permission. “If any player, players, or member of the support staff return despite SLC’s directives, a formal review will be conducted to assess their actions, and an appropriate decision will be made upon the conclusion of the review,” the board said.

SLC claimed it had taken all necessary steps to guarantee the squad’s safety, working “in close coordination with the PCB and relevant authorities.” Sources indicated the board stood firm even as players pressed for reconsideration through the day.

Mohsin Naqvi stepped in to save Pakistan’s image

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi personally intervened, meeting the Sri Lankan players and their High Commissioner Fred Siriweera to provide assurances about the security measures in place. The PCB later confirmed that a “detailed briefing” had been shared and that Siriweera had expressed satisfaction with the arrangements.

Following the updated schedule, the PCB announced that the T20I Tri-Nation Series featuring Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Zimbabwe would also be held entirely in Rawalpindi from November 18 to 29.

Well, this is not the first time that something has caused an unease in Sri Lankan camp in their tour of Pakistan. In 2009, a terrorist attack on their team bus in Lahore ended international cricket in Pakistan for nearly a decade. Ironically, Sri Lanka later became one of the first nations to resume full tours to the country. Five cricketers, namely Mahela Jayawardene (the captain), his deputy Kumar Sangakkara, Ajantha Mendis, Thilan Samaraweera and Tharanga Paravitarana, suffered minor injuries. All of them were hurt in the same attack that claimed the lives of six security personnel and two civilians.

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