SL confirm Pak tour after promise of top-tier security

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) confirmed their tour of Pakistan on Thursday after the Pakistan government pledged the same level of security to their players as is provided to visiting heads of state. Sri Lanka are scheduled to play three ODIs and T20Is each in Pakistan between September 27 and October 9 but 10 key Sri Lankan players have already opted out of the series, citing security concerns.

The future of the tour was in jeopardy last week when SLC said it was reassessing the security situation in Pakistan after receiving a warning “of a possible terrorist threat” to its team.

The board issued a statement on Thursday saying that Sri Lanka’s defence ministry has confirmed that it has received no information through any intelligence agency about a threat to the Sri Lanka team or the tour.

Sri Lanka’s High Commission in Pakistan also has no information indicating a threat, SLC said, adding that Pakistan’s army will coordinate the security arrangements.

“(The) tour of Pakistan will go ahead as planned, following assurances given by the government of Pakistan that it will provide maximum security arrangements for the team during their entire duration of stay in Pakistan,” SLC said.

Pakistan are looking to play their first Test at home in December since a 2009 militant attack on Sri Lanka’s team bus in Lahore left six security personnel and two civilians dead and six players injured.

DANANJAYA’S BAN

DUBAI: Sri Lanka off-spinner Akila Dananjaya was on Thursday handed a 12-month ban by the International Cricket Council (ICC) for illegal bowling action. The decision was taken after an independent assessment of his action. The 25-year-old was assessed after the legality of his bowling action came under question during the first Test against New Zealand in Galle from August 14-18.