Sri Lanka cricket team not under threat - SLC

Sri Lanka's defence authorities this week cleared the national cricket team’s travel to Pakistan, ending weeks of uncertainty about the forthcoming tour. But now there are questions about who triggered a false alarm regarding a possible terrorist attack during the series.

A few hours after Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) announced a newlook team for the six-match series (three ODIs and three T20Is), the Sri Lanka Government through the Prime Minister's office issued a strong warning to cricket authorities calling for a reassessment of the situation in Pakistan before taking on the tour. It was claimed "reliable information of a possible terrorist threat on the Sri Lankan team" had been received.

This put the tour in doubt, even though national security officials later denied knowledge of any such information. This now paves the way for Sri Lanka’s first full limited-over tour to Pakistan since the 2009 terrorist attack on them in Lahore.

“As we have said earlier, we were puzzled by the news of a possible attack on the team," a senior SLC official said.

"We had a thorough and independent analysis of the situation there and were happy with what they offered but the news of a possible attack came as a shocker for us. It’s now seems like a false alarm."

SLC in a statement said that Major General (Rtd.) J.R. Kulathunga, National Intelligence Head, on behalf of the Secretary of the Ministry of Defence of Sri Lanka, confirmed that no information was received by the Ministry of Defence through any Intelligence Agency indicating a threat to the Sri Lanka national team or to the said tour.

“It also said no information has been received by the High Commission of Sri Lanka in Pakistan, indicating a threat to the Sri Lanka national team or to the said tour,” the staement continued.

Before the Prime Minister's office warned of a possible attack, the Board had been happy with the level of security on offer but not so the country’s top-notch cricketers. As many as ten senior players, including ODI and T20 skippers Dimuth Karunaratne and Lasith Malinga, pulled out from the tour despite assurance from the Pakistan government of security accorded to visiting Head of States.

“[The] Government of Pakistan will ensure highest consideration of security to [the] visiting cricket team,” SLC release stated. “[The] Pakistan Army will coordinate the security arrangements. Security protocol will be compatible to [a] Head of State”.

Lahiru Thirimanne and Dasun Shanaka will lead the inexperienced sides during the two week tour. Sri Lanka will go to Pakistan on Tuesday.