Last Sri Lanka T20I to be played in Lahore, reiterates Sethi
PCB chairman brushes aside rumours that Sri Lankan players are unwilling to tour country
PHOTO: AFP
KARACHI:
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Najam Sethi has confirmed that the Sri Lankan team will be visiting Lahore for the last T20I of their three-match series on October 29.
Doubts about the game being held in Lahore have emerged after 40 Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) contracted players, including most of the current squad, wrote a letter to SLC President Thialnga Sumathipala asking for a change of venue.
The PCB Chairman was asked that will Sri Lankan team will visit Pakistan for the last T20 to which he replied affirmative while arriving at the Lahore Airport.
Sri Lanka’s supporting, meanwhile, has agreed to travel to Lahore as well. Hashan Thilakaratne (batting coach), Rumesh Ratnayake (bowling coach), Asanka Gurusinha (manager) and Nic Pothas (head coach) are all willing to tour Lahore after head coach Mickey Arthur spoke to them, a source in the PCB confirmed to The Express Tribune.
The support staff has been asked to individually write a letter to Sri Lanka Cricket CEO Ashley de Silva stating their willingness to tour.
Earlier, a PCB official also confirmed that the Sri Lankan team won’t back off from the tour as they have agreed to send their team in a meeting involving the PCB, the SLC and the ICC.
“The players will have to travel to Lahore since the board has decided to play a T20I in Lahore,” said the PCB official. “The players were consulted before that decision was made so they won’t be backing out now.”
For their part, the SLC has insisted that the match will go on as scheduled. “If the main players don’t agree to come, then the SLC may have to send its second-string players,” conceded the PCB official.
The ICC has expressed its satisfaction with the security arrangements in Pakistan and will send a match referee and an anti-corruption official for the final game.
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Najam Sethi has confirmed that the Sri Lankan team will be visiting Lahore for the last T20I of their three-match series on October 29.
Doubts about the game being held in Lahore have emerged after 40 Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) contracted players, including most of the current squad, wrote a letter to SLC President Thialnga Sumathipala asking for a change of venue.
Sri Lanka should come to Lahore, says Sarfraz Ahmed
The PCB Chairman was asked that will Sri Lankan team will visit Pakistan for the last T20 to which he replied affirmative while arriving at the Lahore Airport.
Sri Lanka’s supporting, meanwhile, has agreed to travel to Lahore as well. Hashan Thilakaratne (batting coach), Rumesh Ratnayake (bowling coach), Asanka Gurusinha (manager) and Nic Pothas (head coach) are all willing to tour Lahore after head coach Mickey Arthur spoke to them, a source in the PCB confirmed to The Express Tribune.
The support staff has been asked to individually write a letter to Sri Lanka Cricket CEO Ashley de Silva stating their willingness to tour.
Memories of 2009 remain: 'Sri Lanka players reluctant to visit Pakistan’
Earlier, a PCB official also confirmed that the Sri Lankan team won’t back off from the tour as they have agreed to send their team in a meeting involving the PCB, the SLC and the ICC.
“The players will have to travel to Lahore since the board has decided to play a T20I in Lahore,” said the PCB official. “The players were consulted before that decision was made so they won’t be backing out now.”
For their part, the SLC has insisted that the match will go on as scheduled. “If the main players don’t agree to come, then the SLC may have to send its second-string players,” conceded the PCB official.
The ICC has expressed its satisfaction with the security arrangements in Pakistan and will send a match referee and an anti-corruption official for the final game.