Pak vs SL ODI series rescheduled following blast in Islamabad, SLC warns players

Pakistan Cricket Board has rescheduled the ongoing ODI series against Sri Lanka following a blast in Islamabad. The Sri Lankan players have been instructed to stay in Pakistan for the entirety of the series.

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) rescheduled the ongoing ODI series against Sri Lanka, with Thursday's match being postponed to Friday, while Saturday's fixture will now be played on Sunday after the blast in Islamabad on Tuesday.

All three ODIs were scheduled to be played in Rawalpindi and the T20I tri-series that also includes Zimbabwe was to be played in Rawalpindi and Lahore. However, following the blast, the series will now be entirely played in Rawalpindi from November 20 to November 29.

The first ODI between Pakistan and Sri Lanka went ahead as scheduled, with Pakistan winning by six runs, despite the blast in national capital Islamabad on Tuesday. Several Sri Lankan players had expressed their will to return home following the tragedy that killed 12 in a court.

In a statement on Wednesday, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) said "several members of the national team currently touring Pakistan have requested to return home, citing safety concerns".

SLC warns its players

On Thursday, SLC and PCB assured the safety of the touring team after a meeting between the two boards in Islamabad on Wednesday. The Sri Lankan players have been instructed to stay in Pakistan for the entirety of the series. In a stern statement, the board has said that those who defy directives will undergo a formal review.

“Following this development, the SLC immediately engaged with the players and assured them that all such concerns are being duly addressed in close consultation with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the relevant authorities to ensure the safety and well-being of every member of the touring party," the statement said.

“If any player, players, or member of the support staff return despite SLC’s directives, a formal review will be conducted to assess their actions, and an appropriate decision will be made upon the conclusion of the review," it added.

Meanwhile, the PCB thanked SLC for its decision to carry on with the tour.

“Grateful to the Sri Lankan team for their decision to continue the Pakistan tour. The spirit of sportsmanship and solidarity shines bright,” PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi Naqvi said on social media.

Flashback of 2009 terror attack

In 2009, the Sri Lankan team bus was attacked by terrorists while going to the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. Several key players like Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara, Ajantha Mendis and Thilan Samaraweera suffered minor injuries. Additionally, six security personnel and two civilians were killed in the attack.

The tour at that time was immediately called off and kept international cricket away from Pakistan for almost a decade.