Reports: PCB yet to hear in detail from Sri Lanka on security threat to players

As the future of their upcoming home series against Sri Lanka gets darker and darker, Pakistan’s cricket authorities remained on tenterhooks on Thursday as they waited for an update from the Islanders. Pakistan are scheduled to host Sri Lanka for three ODIs and as many T20Is. However, the series is now in huge doubt after the visitors received attack threat earlier this week.

The series has already been dealt a huge blow after ten Sri Lanka stars pulled out of it due to security reasons. The likes of Lasith Malinga, Thisara Perera, Niroshan Dickwella, Angelo Mathews are some of the big names who have decided against travelling to Pakistan. Consequently, Sri Lanka were compelled to name a depleted squad for the tour. And considering the latest turn of events, one would not be very surprised if more Sri Lankan players back out from the tour.

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), on Wednesday, confirmed that their Prime Minister had received a letter which mentioned the threat of an attack on the team in Pakistan. However, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is yet to hear anything about it from their Sri Lankan counterpart.

“The PCB is waiting for some response on the tour and unless intelligence is shared what can the PCB say how reliable it is. Yes there have been background contacts but nothing definite has come out of it yet,” a source was quoted as saying by The Indian Express.

SLC, meanwhile, has already announced that it would reassess the security arrangements in Pakistan before taking a final call.  Sri Lanka are due to play three ODIs in Karachi, followed by as many T20Is in Lahore between September 27 and October 9.

Blow for Pakistan

If Sri Lanka eventually decides against touring Pakistan, it will be a huge blow for the latter. Pakistan are desperate for international cricket to resume on their soil. They have not hosted a single Test in their country since the attack on the Sri Lankan team bus in 2009. The PCB was banking on the upcoming series to convince foreign players to come and play the entire Pakistan Super League’s fifth edition in the country.

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