Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) will assess the security situation in Pakistan before sending its team to play the 3rd and final T20I match in Lahore next month.
Sri Lanka’s visit to Pakistan would be the first time they would travel to Pakistan since their team bus was attacked by terrorists outside the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore during their 2009 tour. As many as seven Sri Lankan players were injured during that horrific incident.
“We have scheduled the last game in Pakistan and will assess the security situation once the Test series is over. Then we will take a call. We will send some security experts to Pakistan as well to assess the situation. That report should come to us two weeks prior to the visit.” Sri Lanka Cricket CEO Ashley De Silva stated to the media on Thursday (21st).
Sri Lanka team hit an all-time low during the recently-concluded inbound Indian tour where they lost all 9 matches across 3 formats. The Test squad led by Dinesh Chandimal will be leaving the Island to the UAE on Sunday (24th) to play 2 Tests, 5 ODIs and 3 T20Is – (the third game will be in Pakistan subject to security clearance).
Sri Lanka Head Coach Nic Pothas stated that heavy defeats against India strengthened the morale of the players, “The Indian series despite the heavy defeat brought the boys together. If you take Angelo [Mathews], he was injured while trying to help one of the young blokes (Vishwa Fernando) to get a higher grade in the Yo-Yo test during training. A senior player trying to help a young guy says about the camaraderie we have in the squad,” Pothas said during a media briefing.
Sri Lanka suffered a huge blow yesterday (20th) when former skipper Angelo Mathews was ruled out of the first Test due to a calf injury and will not travel with the squad hence was not named in the original squad. Asanka Gurusinha, Cricket Manager confirmed that Mathews’ participation for the second Test match, which will be Sri Lanka’s first ever Day & Night Test match will be doubtful.
“Angelo will not be travelling with the squad. He will be in Colombo and will undergo a fitness test before the second Test. If he is good, then he will join the squad in Dubai.” Gurusinha said.
