'Sri Lanka can tour Pakistan if security guaranteed'

E-Paper | May 04, 2026

More than four years after an attack on their team in Lahore, Sri Lanka could well be the country that brings international cricket back to Pakistan.

The attack on the Sri Lanka team bus in 2009, which stripped Pakistan of its right to host international matches, left a permanent scar on some of the players but according to Sri Lanka Cricket’s media manager Rajith Fernando a tour could still be possible in the near future.

“Insurgency is not new to us as we have seen it in Sri Lanka for three decades. The 2009 incident was unfortunate, but Sri Lanka can tour Pakistan again if decent security arrangements are guaranteed,” Fernando told a Pakistani news channel.

“Sri Lanka highly values the support from Pakistan in tough times. We understand Pakistan’s agony and are ready to help in every possible way,” he added while hinting at the possibility of formal talks between the the PCB and SLC

The interim chairman of the PCB, Najam Sethi and the Secretary of SLC, Nishantha Ranatunga are in the UAE to witness the ongoing series between Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

The SLC official also touched upon the upcoming tour to Bangladesh and hoped it would go ahead as per schedule. “We have not decided to call the tour off as yet but the final decision will be taken after thorough deliberation. We hope situation will get better after the general elections in Bangladesh”, said Rajith Fernando

Bangladesh is scheduled to host Sri Lanka for two Tests, two Twenty20s and three ODIs during a series starting from January 27.

Our readers are at the heart of everything we do.
Do you have a thought to share or a way we can improve? We’d love to hear it. Reach out to us at feedback@dawn.com.

Sport

HBL PSL 2024: United edge Kings in high-stakes encounter

Babar Azam slammed for poor captaincy

All to play for after Australia, England clash washed out

Pedro

Dec 22, 2013 05:31am

Pakistan can not even guarantee the safety of their military personals forget about the foreign teams personals. Sri Lanka should think twice before going on this adventure of touring Pakistan.

Recommend 0

Azhar

Dec 22, 2013 05:33am

PCB is planning another failure.

Recommend 0

Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad

Dec 22, 2013 05:45am

The positive statement of Sri Lankan Cricket media manager pertaining to offering their tangible help in bringing back international cricket to the "land of the pure" should not be an eye opener for all enlightened, educated, mature, intelligent, excelling and enduring cricket academics, experts, professionals and others.. Wise nations, firms, institutions and organizations must show the understanding, guts, expertise, know how, knowledge as well as the grit to wake up, realize and understand who their actual friends and foes are? At the same time, PCB should not be an exception to this centuries old universal principle. Therefore, the acting or interim PCB chief must look south for help in order to restore international cricket in the "land of the pure" instead of glancing towards the east.

Recommend 0

Jaswinder Singh

Dec 22, 2013 08:33am

Sri Lanka is a responsible cricket playing nation and their comments are highly respected I am sure they will visit Pakistan.

Recommend 0

Ahmer

Dec 22, 2013 12:29pm

No country can guarantee 100% security but if SL can play in BD where the security is much worse, they should be able to play in Pakistan.

Recommend 0

Saleem

Dec 22, 2013 02:03pm

@Pedro In the guerrilla warfare, the militias and terrorists can easily attach. Even 9/11 went down just like that. However, if the effective and foolproof security is provided to the team, there'll be no possibility of anyone getting closer to the tourists. It was the Punjab government taking it too easy last time thinking no one will hit them in Lahore. The security is in Karachi was perfect. Let's hope our Sri Lankan brothers come to Pakistan despite having scars of 2009, it will be really brave of them and Pakistanis will be in debt forever.

Recommend 0

Chandana Perera

Dec 22, 2013 02:50pm

A friend in need is a friend in deed. Pakistan is our closest friend and supported us in every way they could during our toughest times in the past. once they traveled to SL with India while other cricket nations turn their backs on us. We can go again and show how Sri Lankans treat their true friends by going back to Pakistan and supporting their cricket. By this way we can give a strong massage to terrorists too that they cannot prevent Sri Lankans by their coward attacks, We have shown this already in our soil and this is another chance for us.

Recommend 0

Dec 23, 2013 03:57am

It's not only that Pakistan failed to provide adequate security in 2009 but also the fact that the culprits were never apprehended. Having said that, I think no one thought the SL team would be attacked as they have no enemies in Pakistan.

Recommend 0

Pedro

Dec 23, 2013 09:05am

@Saleem: Whatever PCB and the security apparatus plan to do for SL team can they demonstrate that for three consecutive domestic games? Do they have metal detectors, secure stadiums, emergency plans, emergency handling staff, secure transportation, and crowd handling procedures in place? How is the security situation and handling of it is any different in 2014 compared with what it was in 2009? These are the questions that PCB must answer first. International community can not rely on just the rhetoric from PCB representatives.

Recommend 0

Khalid Arif Siddiqui

Dec 23, 2013 11:04am

@Azhar: I have a lot of respect for the Sri Lankan board & cricketers from the island but this statement (issued by the media manager travelling with the Lankan team currently playing Pakistan in the UAE) sounds more like playing to the galleries. PCB & Pakistani media should not start jumping to conclusions unless we hear the high ups of the Lankan board officially backing their media manager. Sethi & PCB should avoid point scoring on it.

Recommend 0

asif

Dec 23, 2013 11:58am

@Chandana Perera: Bravo, Sri Lanka!!!

Recommend 0

Wajahat Hussain

Dec 23, 2013 12:02pm

@Chandana Perera: I can only say thank you! A friend in need is a friend indeed.

Recommend 0

Imtiaz Gilgity

Dec 23, 2013 12:20pm

@Chandana Perera: Salute to you Courageous Comments and thoughts. We Pakistanis are always Proud of Friends like Srilanka.

Recommend 0

shab

Dec 23, 2013 08:58pm

Pakistan government responsibility is to protect its citizen first then you can invites outsider to visit Pakistan. If Pakistani are suffering from target killing, daily bombing by these barbaric religious fanatics than how come you protect visitors(did we protect them on their previous tour). My advise to Sri Lanka thing 1000 time before visiting Pakistan.

Recommend 0

Arif

Dec 24, 2013 12:13pm

@Pedro: warm welcome for Sri Lanka.

Recommend 0

ali ahmed

Dec 24, 2013 02:00pm

Welcome to our Sri Lankan brothers. I request government of Pakistan to provide them head of the state level security during their visit to Pakistan. The entire Pakistani nation is ready to welcome them in an unprecedented manner.

Recommend 0

Noni

Dec 24, 2013 06:14pm

Karachi should build a stadium in Indian Ocean in Island out side Karachi, connected via one road or one bridge. Its easy to secure and can have excellent security. In fact such arena should be best of its kind, so that other countries should ask Pakistan to build such around world.

Recommend 0

Branded Content

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa expands climate action with one Million Tree Drive and forest reforms

The province is turning policy into action through a series of large scale programmes aimed at rebuilding ecosystems and improving resilience against rising climate pressures.

Taptap Send, Arshad Nadeem partner to highlight Pakistan’s unsung champions

The initiative comes at a time when cricket continues to dominate national attention, often overshadowing achievements in other sports.

NexGen Auto (Nishat Group) to Introduce iCAUR in Pakistan

As one of Pakistan’s leading business groups, Nishat Group operates across key sectors including textiles, cement, banking, insurance, power and agriculture.