Sri Lanka Cricket says received terror attack warning ahead of Pakistan tour

Published September 11, 2019
The statement from Sri Lanka Cricket came a short while after the board announced two squads for the three One-Day Internationals (ODIs) and the three T20 matches starting September 27.— Reuters/File
The statement from Sri Lanka Cricket came a short while after the board announced two squads for the three One-Day Internationals (ODIs) and the three T20 matches starting September 27.— Reuters/File

Sri Lanka's cricket board said on Wednesday it had received warnings its national team could be the target of a terror attack during an upcoming tour of Pakistan.

The board said the Sri Lankan Prime Minister's Office had advised it to “reassess the situation” after it received “reliable information of a possible terrorist threat” against the national squad ahead of the six-match limited overs tour.

It stopped short of calling off the tour, but said a reassessment of the security situation would be sought from Sri Lankan government authorities.

The Sri Lanka team was the victim of a militant attack during a Test match in Lahore in March 2009. Six Sri Lankan players were injured when gunmen attacked their bus while six Pakistan policemen and two civilians were killed.

Ten senior players have already opted out of the upcoming tour citing security concerns.

The statement from Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) came a short while after the board announced two squads for the three One-Day Internationals (ODIs) and the three T20 matches starting September 27.

In response to the development, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said today, "We have seen the SLC statement but are not privy to any information or intelligence report relating to safety of the Sri Lankan teams."

"The PCB reiterates its commitment to provide complete safety and security to the Sri Lankan side and in this regard will continue to work with the SLC," the PCB said.

Opinion

Editorial

Digital growth
Updated 25 Apr, 2024

Digital growth

Democratising digital development will catalyse a rapid, if not immediate, improvement in human development indicators for the underserved segments of the Pakistani citizenry.
Nikah rights
25 Apr, 2024

Nikah rights

THE Supreme Court recently delivered a judgement championing the rights of women within a marriage. The ruling...
Campus crackdowns
25 Apr, 2024

Campus crackdowns

WHILE most Western governments have either been gladly facilitating Israel’s genocidal war in Gaza, or meekly...
Ties with Tehran
Updated 24 Apr, 2024

Ties with Tehran

Tomorrow, if ties between Washington and Beijing nosedive, and the US asks Pakistan to reconsider CPEC, will we comply?
Working together
24 Apr, 2024

Working together

PAKISTAN’S democracy seems adrift, and no one understands this better than our politicians. The system has gone...
Farmers’ anxiety
24 Apr, 2024

Farmers’ anxiety

WHEAT prices in Punjab have plummeted far below the minimum support price owing to a bumper harvest, reckless...