Pakistan to shift the tri-series to Rawalpindi after the suicide bombing

Despite worries expressed by certain Sri Lankan players in the wake of a fatal suicide bombing in Islamabad, Pakistan confirmed the tour will proceed as scheduled and on Thursday announced a revised itinerary for the ongoing One-Day International series against Sri Lanka.

The players have been worried about their safety because Rawalpindi, where the ODIs are being played, is close to Islamabad, according to a PTI report citing Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) sources. 

Following the incident in Islamabad that resulted in at least 12 deaths and 36 injuries, some Sri Lankan cricket players asked to return home from their tour of Pakistan for safety reasons, according to Reuters. However, their board issued a strict order to stay put or face repercussions.

The bombing site is fewer than ten kilometres away from both the hotel where the Sri Lankan squad is staying and the cricket stadium. Following the explosion, which was the first assault on civilians in the capital in ten years, the Sri Lanka Cricket Board announced on Wednesday that a number of players had requested to return home.

The board told the crew to remain, citing "foolproof" security promises from Pakistani officials. On Thursday, a request for additional comment was not answered.

"Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) was informed by the team management this morning that several members of the national team currently touring Pakistan have requested to return home, citing safety concerns. Following this development, SLC immediately engaged with the players and assured them that all such concerns are being duly addressed in close coordination with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the relevant authorities to ensure the safety and well-being of every member of the touring party. In this context, SLC has instructed all players, support staff, and team management to continue with the tour as scheduled," the board said in a statement.

Pakistan was forced to stage its home games at offshore locations in the Middle East after the horrific attack in 2009, which prevented any foreign teams from travelling there for more than ten years. Coincidentally, the return of international cricket to Pakistan was marked by Sri Lanka's December 2019 tour.

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