Sri Lankan players who refuse Lahore visit will not be considered for whole T20I series

The Sri Lankan selectors are expected to select the same squad for the entire T20 international series. This announcement comes at the backdrop of several Sri Lankan players refusing to travel to Pakistan citing security issues. Hence, these players wouldn’t be considered for the three-match T20I series.

Pakistan has been isolated as a host country by the full-time ICC members ever since the attack on Sri Lankan team’s bus in 2009. The recent World XI tour was seen as a prospect to bring back international cricket to Pakistan. However, some of the Sri Lankan players have expressed their unwillingness to play there.

According to a report in ESPNCricinfo, chief selector Graeme Labrooy stated, “The understanding is that we choose the same squad for the series, in fairness to the players who have put their hands up for the Lahore match.”

The above-mentioned ruling has been put forward by the Sri Lankan Cricket and their Sports Ministry. This may also mean that the selectors will have to announce a new skipper with Upul Tharanga not keen to travel all the way to Pakistan.

“At the moment the board is talking to each of the players individually, so the selectors don’t know exactly who is available now,” Labrooy said. “But we should know that by Friday morning. Two SLC executive committee members have been contacting the players.”

The Sri Lankan board has been marred with one or the other problem in recent times. Whether it has come to their administration or the team’s dismal performance or the current scenario, nothing seems to be working. The One Day International team is yet to win a single encounter in their last ten games. With the committee members still in talks with the players, they would be hoping for a positive outcome.