SLC directs team to continue Pakistan tour despite players' safety concerns

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has instructed its players and support staff to continue their matches in Pakistan despite several members of the touring party expressing a desire to return home following Tuesday's suicide bombing in Islamabad.

In a statement released on Wednesday (November 12), SLC said it had been informed by the team management that "several members of the national team currently touring Pakistan have requested to return home, citing safety concerns".

The board said it immediately engaged with the players and assured them that "all such concerns are being duly addressed in close coordination with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the relevant authorities to ensure the safety and well-being of every member of the touring party".

However, SLC directed all players, support staff, and management to continue with the tour as scheduled. The release further noted that if any player or member of the touring party chose to return despite the directive, replacements would be sent to ensure the series continues without disruption.

"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 statement added.

Earlier, there were reports that several Sri Lankan cricketers had expressed a desire to withdraw from the series citing security concerns, following a suicide bombing outside a court in Islamabad that killed 12 and injured 27.

The opening ODI went ahead in Rawalpindi, with Pakistan edging Sri Lanka by six runs, and the remaining two matches are scheduled for Thursday and Saturday at the same venue. The T20I tri-series, which also involves Zimbabwe, is slated to be played from November 17 to 29.

The situation has revived memories of the 2009 Lahore terror attack, when gunmen targeted the Sri Lankan team bus, injuring six players and keeping international cricket away from Pakistan for almost a decade.