ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s national men’s squad will resume their ODI series against Sri Lanka in Rawalpindi today, Friday, amid security fears triggered by a bomb blast in the capital earlier this week.
Sri Lanka players wanted to leave the country after a suicide bomber killed 12 people outside a court in Islamabad on Tuesday, hours before the first ODI in nearby Rawalpindi.
However, Sri Lanka Cricket directed the team to finish the series after it was reassured of security by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
PCB Chairman and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi paid a visit to the Rawalpindi stadium on Thursday night where he watched the two teams practice and met players from Sri Lanka.
“Your security is our responsibility,” Naqvi told the Sri Lankan players, according to a statement released by the PCB.
“Your continued tour of Pakistan is a victory for peace and a defeat for terrorism.”
The Sri Lankan high commissioner, the chief commissioners of Islamabad and Rawalpindi as well as the Inspector General of Islamabad Police and senior officials of law enforcement agencies were present with Naqvi during his visit to the stadium.
Tuesday’s bomb blast brought back memories of the harrowing attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team in 2009. Six Sri Lankan players were wounded when gunmen opened fire on their team bus as it was taking them to the Qaddafi Stadium in Lahore for a Test match.
The incident led to international teams staying away from Pakistan for nearly a decade due to security fears.
Sri Lanka will play the two remaining matches on Friday and Sunday before taking part in a tri-nation series involving Pakistan and Zimbabwe.
All matches will be played in Rawalpindi.
