COLOMBO: Bangladesh were comfortable with the high level of security as they became the first foreign team to visit Sri Lanka since the Easter bombings, skipper Tamim Iqbal said on Monday.

Speaking to reporters two days after arriving in Colombo, Tamim said security was not a concern for them although the hosts had arranged tight protection following the April 21 attacks that killed 258 people.

“The security has been fantastic ... The facilities they have given us are top notch,” he said. “We are feeling very comfortable. There is nothing except cricket [that] we are thinking of. The boys are enjoying the hotel and if they want to go out, it is completely safe for us.”

A local Islamic extremist group was blamed for the April 21 suicide bombings against three churches and three luxury hotels in Colombo. The authorities on Monday extended a state of emergency by a further month till Aug 22 giving more powers to security authorities to arrest and detain suspects.

Tamim said Sri Lanka had played in Bangladesh despite violence in his country and said his team’s visit was also a part of reciprocating the solidarity shown by their hosts.

The Bangladesh team members are provided with a level of security usually reserved for visiting state dignitaries, with additional deployments at their hotel and armed guards for their motorcade.

Reporters covering Monday’s press conference with Tamim and his hosts were subjected to airport-style security.

“We have special security arrangements at match venues too,” a police official said.

MALINGA TO QUIT

Veteran Sri Lankan pace bowler Lasith Malinga will retire from One-day Inter­national cricket with the first match of a three-match series against Bangladesh, skipper Dimuth Karun­aratne said.

Malinga was named to the 22-man Sri Lanka squad for the series.

But speaking at the team’s press conference in the Sri Lankan capital, Karunaratne confirmed the 36-year old fast bowler and former captain would only appear in the first game.

“He is going to play the first match. After that he is retiring. That’s what he said to me. I don’t know what he said for the selectors but for me he said he is playing only one match,” said Karunaratne.

Malinga, 35, will leave as Sri Lanka’s third highest wicket-taker in ODI cricket with 335 wickets in 219 innings so far.

Only Muttiah Muralitharan (523) and Chaminda Vaas (399) have taken more wickets than Malinga in ODIs for Sri Lanka.

He was Sri Lanka’s highest wicket-taker at the World Cup, claiming 13 scalps in seven innings.

Malinga retired from Test cricket in 2011 but continued to remain available in other formats since then.

Bangladesh will play three One-day Inter­nationals on July 26, 28 and 31 at the R. Premadasa International Stadium in Colombo.

Sri Lanka had previously expected New Zealand to be the first foreign sporting visitors but the Black Caps will now arrive next month to play two Tests and three Twenty20 Internationals.

The first Test against New Zealand will be played in Galle starting Aug 14, and the second will begin on Aug 22 at Colombo’s P. Sara Oval.

The three T20s will be played on Aug 31, Sept 2 and Sept 6.

Published in Dawn, July 23rd, 2019