No truth to reports that India influenced Sri Lankan players not to play in Pakistan: Sri Lankan minister

Sri Lanka Minister Harin Fernando said some players rejected to travel to Pakistan to play series in the country in keeping in mind the 2009 terror attack incident.

"No truth to reports that India influenced Sri Lankan players not to play in Pakistan.Some decided not to play purely based on 2009 incident. Respecting their decision we picked players who were willing to travel. We have a full strength team & we hope to beat Pakistan in Pakistan," the Minister tweeted.

Federal Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry on Tuesday tweeted: "  Informed sports commentators told me that India threatened SL players that they ll be ousted from IPL if they don’t refuse Pak visit, this is really cheap tactic, jingoism from sports to space is something we must condemn, really cheap on the part of Indian sports authorities." 

Ten Sri Lankan players, including fast bowler Lasith Malinga, have opted out from the Pakistan tour to play a limited overs series in the country.

Pakistan is scheduled to host three-match ODI series followed by as many T20Is from Sept 27.

The decision was a blow for the Pakistan Cricket Board which is trying to bring back international cricket to the nation.

Sri Lanka Cricket on Monday held a meeting with players, who were chosen as part of a preliminary squad to select the team, which will be touring Pakistan to play 3 ODIs and 3 T20i matches.

The meeting was aimed at informing the players about the security arrangements, during the forthcoming tour and also to find out their ‘decision’ (either taking part or not), before selectors sit for the selection of squads for the ODI and T20i series.

Former Sri Lanka Air Force Commander, Marshal Air Roshan Goonetileke, who is the Chief Security Advisor of the SLC, briefed the players about the security situation in Pakistan and the security arrangements PCB plans on implementing during Sri Lanka team’s tour of that country, whilst Chairman of the National Selection Panel Asantha De Mel, explained about the selection policy for future tours.

The Sri Lankan team were attacked in 2009 when they travelled to Pakistan to play a series.

Unknown gunmen had attacked the Sri Lankan team bus in Lahore on Mar 3, 2009.

The players remained unhurt.

Majority of the nations have refrained from traveling to Pakistan by citing security reasons over the years since the incident took place.

Sri Lankan cricketers who have decided to opt-out of the series are:

Niroshan Dickwella
Kusal Janith Perera
Dhananjaya De Silva
Thisara Perera
Akila Dhananjaya
Lasith Malinga
Angelo Mathews
Suranga Lakmal
Dinesh Chandimal
Dimuth Karunaratne

Image: Sri Lanka Cricket Twitter page