Sri Lanka’s ODI tour of Pakistan has been jolted by security concerns, with eight players set to fly home after a deadly bomb blast in Islamabad raised fresh alarms over team safety.
Eight squad members, currently part of the three-match ODI series, informed Sri Lanka Cricket that they were uncomfortable continuing the tour after the explosion — which killed 12 people and injured several others — occurred close to Rawalpindi, the venue for the ongoing series.
Second ODI Called Off
Their departure means the second ODI in Rawalpindi will not take place. Pakistan had edged the opening match by six runs at the same venue, but the series now sits in uncertainty as SLC prepares replacements for the departing players.
The team is also slated to take part in a triangular series with Pakistan and Zimbabwe following the ODIs, though that schedule may now require reshaping once replacements arrive.
Security Flashpoint Reopens Old Wounds
Rawalpindi’s proximity to Islamabad was the primary trigger for the players’ decision, SLC sources confirmed. The blast revived painful memories of the 2009 Lahore attack, when the Sri Lankan team bus was ambushed en route to the Gaddafi Stadium during a Test match.
Several players — including Ajantha Mendis, Chaminda Vaas, and captain Mahela Jayawardene — were injured, while multiple Pakistani security personnel were killed. That incident forced Pakistan into more than a decade of hosting “home” cricket in the UAE as touring nations refused to visit.
A Troubling Déjà Vu for Pakistan Cricket
International cricket only returned to Pakistan in full measure after Sri Lanka toured again in December 2019, a landmark visit that reopened doors long closed.
This latest withdrawal — although precautionary — is a sobering reminder of how fragile those gains remain, and how quickly security fears can shake even hard-won progress.
