10 Sri Lankans choose to stay out of Pakistan tour over security concerns

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) today held a meeting with players, who were chosen as part of a preliminary squad to select the team, which will be touring Pakistan to play 03 ODIs and 03 T20i matches, starting from 27th September to 09th October, 2019 — SLC announced in a media release. 

The meeting was aimed at informing the players about the security arrangements, during the forthcoming tour and also to find out their ‘decision’ (either taking part or not), before selectors sit for the selection of squads for the ODI and T20i series.

Former Sri Lanka Air Force Commander, Marshal Air Roshan Goonetileke, who is the Chief Security Advisor of the SLC, briefed the players about the security situation in Pakistan and the security arrangements PCB plans on implementing during Sri Lanka team’s tour of that country, whilst Chairman of the National Selection Panel Mr. Asantha De Mel, explained about the selection policy for future tours.

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“The SLC security experts had visited the two cities earlier this month and had given a positive report, which made our job of decision-making easy,

He said, players will be given the freedom to decide on either taking part or not in the forthcoming Pakistan tour.

Accordingly, the following players chose to stay away from the upcoming Pakistan series.

Niroshan Dickwella

Kusal Janith Perera

Dhananjaya De Silva

Thisara Perera

Akila Dhananjaya

Lasith Malinga

Angelo Mathews

Suranga Lakmal

Dinesh Chandimal

Dimuth Karunaratne

Whilst Kusal Mendis, is not available for selection due to an injury he suffered during the New Zealand Series.

Following the meeting with the players, the National Selectors, selected a T20I and ODI squad to tour Pakistan, and the respective squads will be sent to the approval of the Minister of Telecommunication, Foreign Employment and Sports Honorable Harin Fernando in due course.

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