Sri Lanka’s Mahesh Theekshana celebrates with teammates (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed) Tensions began on Tuesday when a suicide bomber killed 12 people and injured many others outside a judicial complex in Islamabad. The first ODI between Pakistan and Sri Lanka was held on the same day in nearby Rawalpindi, where Pakistan won by six runs. News of the attack quickly spread to the Sri Lankan camp and the mood changed from a competitive focus to one of deep concern.
The players are asking to go home
The next morning, anxiety took hold. PTI reported that eight players from Sri Lanka’s 16-member squad have told team officials that they want to return to Colombo. Their concerns centered on the proximity between Islamabad and Rawalpindi, the venue for all three ODIs. With so many players uncertain about staying, the second leg scheduled for Thursday immediately became doubtful.
Asim Munir steps up amid Islamabad terror attack to convince Sri Lanka to resume cricket tour
Sri Lanka were also set to stay on for the tri-nation T20I series involving Pakistan and Zimbabwe, but even that future plan became uncertain as the team debated what to do next.
Sri Lankan cricket is trying to calm their nerves
Sri Lanka Cricket soon issued a statement confirming that several players had asked to fly home as they were unhappy with the situation. The SLC said it was working closely with the Pakistan Cricket Board and local authorities to review the security situation. The board ordered the team to continue the tour as planned, while stating that any player or staff member who still wished to leave would be replaced immediately to allow the series to continue.
Tone change and warning from SLC
Later, the board took a stronger position. The SLC ordered all players to remain in Pakistan and warned that anyone who returned against the instructions would face formal scrutiny upon arrival home. The intention was clear: the tour must continue.The PCB also moved quickly and rearranged the remaining ODIs. The second match was moved from Thursday to Friday and the third match was moved from Saturday to Sunday, with both matches still in Rawalpindi. PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi thanked Sri Lanka for agreeing to proceed and said their willingness showed true sportsmanship. To boost confidence, Naqvi met the Sri Lankan players at their hotel in Islamabad and assured them of complete protection.
Memories from 2009 are coming back
The concern among visiting players was understandable. In 2009, the Sri Lankan team bus was attacked by gunmen on its way to the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. Several players, including Ajantha Mendis, Chaminda Vaas and Mahela Jayawardene, were injured and Pakistani security officers were killed. The incident drove international cricket out of Pakistan for nearly a decade, and Sri Lanka were the first major team to return in 2019. The memory of this attack still lingers.
Tri series locked for Rawalpindi
While the ODI schedule was being worked out, the PCB confirmed an updated schedule for the T20 tri-series. All matches against Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe will now be played in Rawalpindi. The tournament will begin on November 18 with Pakistan taking on Zimbabwe and the final is scheduled for November 29, with all matches starting at 6pm. Zimbabwe arrived in Pakistan early on Thursday, sticking to the original schedule.
Naqvi enters with a manual approach
On Thursday, Mohsin Naqvi took charge of the situation directly. He arrived at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium with Sri Lankan High Commissioner Rear Admiral (R) Fred Siriweera and Minister of State Talal Chaudhry. Together they reviewed every layer of security prepared for the remaining ODIs. Naqvi urged the security teams to give their best and Siriweera expressed satisfaction with what he saw.
Assurance for players
From the stadium, Naqvi went directly to meet the Sri Lankan team. He thanked them for choosing to stay at a difficult time and reminded them that their security in Pakistan was the country’s responsibility. He called their decision a stand for peace and said it proved that terrorism will not dictate the future of cricket tours.
Pakistan’s military chief helps save the streak
Later that day, Naqvi told the Senate that Pakistan Field Marshal Asim Munir played a key role behind the scenes. Speaking directly to Sri Lanka’s defense minister and secretary, Munir offered full assurances when the visiting players first expressed reluctance to continue. Naqvi said the Sri Lankan team had initially decided to fly home after the bombing, but the combined efforts of the PCB, SLC and senior officials on both sides eventually convinced them to stay. He described their decision as an act of courage in a very difficult time.
