Sri Lanka cricket have confirmed that national side will be visiting Pakistan to play One-Day Internationals and T20Is. Sri-Lankan defence ministry has given green light to SLC for sending team to Pakistan to contest bilateral series of limited overs cricket.
“The Major General (Rtd.) J. R. Kulathunga, National Intelligence Head, on behalf of the Secretary of the Ministry of Defense of Sri Lanka confirmed that no information has been received by the Ministry of Defence through any Intelligence Agency indicating a threat to the Sri Lanka National Team or to the said tour,” Sri Lanka board said in a release.
Initially the tour was confirmed but as per several reports published it was stated that board received threat messages from terrorists camp to attack on Sri Lankan team if they travel to Pakistan for playing cricket. Hence board requested government to give review for sending the team or not despite SLC announced second tier squad for the series.
Pakistan Minister Fawad Hussain Chaudhry blamed Indian board for the refusal from many top class Sri Lankan players willing to travel Pakistan. Later Sri Lanka Minister Harin Fernando rejected these claims and as per report published by The Indian wire , he said “No truth to reports that India influenced Sri Lankan players not to play in Pakistan. Some decided not to play purely based on 2009 incident. Respecting their decision we picked players who were willing to travel. We have a full strength team & we hope to beat Pakistan in Pakistan.”
SL tour of Pak 2019 schedule
1st ODI: Karachi, September 27
2nd ODI: Karachi, September 29
3rd ODI: Karachi, October 2
1st T20I: Lahore, October 5
2nd T20I: Lahore, October 7
3rd T20I: Lahore, October 9
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