A tense standoff has erupted within Sri Lanka Cricket after captain Charith Asalanka and key players Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, and Kamindu Mendis decided to abandon the Pakistan tour and return home following a deadly bomb blast in Islamabad, defying official assurances of top-level security.
An internal source from Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) revealed that the four cricketers, along with two others, informed management of their decision to immediately return to Sri Lanka due to safety concerns. Earlier reports claiming that 16 players were returning have been corrected, confirming that only a handful, around six players, have made this choice.
The Pakistani government had earlier assured that the security provided to the Sri Lankan players was on par with that given to a head of state. Despite these assurances, the players reportedly expressed that they were unwilling to remain in Pakistan after the explosion, citing family concerns and personal safety.
SLC officials have expressed disappointment over the decision, stating that disciplinary action will likely follow. According to senior board sources, the players may face temporary suspensions or even bans from representing Sri Lanka in upcoming international tournaments, including the ICC T20 World Cup next year.
To fill the gap left by these withdrawals, another group of Sri Lankan players is expected to leave the island tomorrow to continue the tour.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), while confirming the incident, reiterated that every possible security measure had been taken to protect the visiting team. The episode, however, threatens to strain bilateral cricket ties and reignite fears about touring Pakistan, where international cricket has only recently resumed full-time following years of isolation due to security concerns.
It is worth recalling that during the 1996 Cricket World Cup, when deadly bomb blasts rocked Colombo and teams like Australia and the West Indies refused to play in Sri Lanka, Pakistan and India stood by the nation by sending a combined team to play a friendly match in solidarity.
