Sri Lanka cricket team manifests concern over travelling to Pakistan for ODI series

Sri Lanka’s senior cricketers have manifested their worries over travelling to Pakistan for ODI series as they are concerned about the security circumstances in the country.

As per the BBC Urdu, ODI skipper Dimuth Karunaratne, Lasith Malinga and Angelo Mathews have all declined to travel to Pakistan.

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‘The players’ families are concerned about their safety,’ Sri Lankan Sports Minister Harin Fernando said while talking to BBC Sinhala Service, as quoted by Geo News.

This comes from the fact that the Sri Lankan team bus was attacked by armed people in 2009, which injured six Sri Lankan players and six Pakistani police and two civilians dead.

Reserved umpire Ahsan Raza and two staff members were also injured during the pounce.

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Sports minister pointed out that a meeting is likely take place on Monday in order to persuade the players to travel to Pakistan.

“I have been told by some of the players that they cannot participate after their families raised concerns,” Fernando said. “I have even told the players that I am ready to travel with them to Pakistan.”

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Sri Lanka’s tour of Pakistan will have 3 ODIs in Karachi, which will commence on September 27, and 3 T20I in Lahore, which will start on 5th October.