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10 senior Sri Lanka players pull out of LOI tour of Pakistan (Sep-Oct 2019)

Sultan Baba

Sultan Baba

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Sri Lanka Cricket today 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 03 ODIs and 03 T20i matches, starting from 27th September to 09th October, 2019.

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 Mr. Asantha De Mel, explained about the selection policy for future tours.

He said, players will be given the freedom to decide on either taking part or not in the forthcoming Pakistan tour.

Accordingly, the following players chose to stay away from the upcoming Pakistan series.

Niroshan Dickwella
Kusal Janith Perera
Dhananjaya De Silva
Thisara Perera
Akila Dhananjaya
Lasith Malinga
Angelo Mathews
Suranga Lakmal
Dinesh Chandimal
Dimuth Karunaratne
Whilst Kusal Mendis, is not available for selection due to an injury he suffered during the New Zealand Series.

Following the meeting with the players, the National Selectors, selected a T20I and ODI squad to tour Pakistan, and the respective squads will be sent to the approval of the Minister of Telecommunication, Foreign Employment and Sports Honorable Harin Fernando in due course.

http://cricket.lk/2019/09/09/slc-statement-on-the-tour-of-pakistan/
 
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- Sri Lanka players chose to stay away from the Pakistan series.
Niroshan Dickwella, Kusal Janith Perera, Dhananjaya De Silva, Thisara Perera, Akila Dhananjaya, Lasith Malinga, Angelo Mathews, Suranga Lakmal, Dinesh Chandimal and Dimuth Karunaratne.
 
Sultan Baba said:
- Sri Lanka players chose to stay away from the Pakistan series.
Niroshan Dickwella, Kusal Janith Perera, Dhananjaya De Silva, Thisara Perera, Akila Dhananjaya, Lasith Malinga, Angelo Mathews, Suranga Lakmal, Dinesh Chandimal and Dimuth Karunaratne.
Click to expand...

All the main players. Smh
 
Doesn’t matter who are coming or who aren’t,
actually Pakistan 🇵🇰 will welcome international cricket 🏏
 
A total of ten Sri Lankan players have pulled out of upcoming tour of Pakistan (3 ODIs, 3 T20Is) after Sri Lanka Cricket board's security briefing
 
B team of Sri Lanka

We should also play our B team as well
 
Thisara Perrera has played in Pakistan before. Why is he pulling out this time?
 
Pakistan as a state needs to remember who are your friends and who are not...

I hope out of these 10 Sri Lankan Players, noone is available for PSL as well...
 
trickyone said:
Pakistan as a state needs to remember who are your friends and who are not...

I hope out of these 10 Sri Lankan Players, noone is available for PSL as well...
Click to expand...

This is the wrong attitude, you cant say the country is safe when we are pulling out presidential style security for teams just for the sake of a cricket match. Once players start coming of their own accord only then will it be safe. don't forget sri lanka was at the center of the original atrocities, therefore it is understandable some players may have reservations.
 
Pakistan has to undo the damage done to its reputation through decades of poor governance and policies. It will take a long time.

Stronger the country is, easier it is to get this done.

Having said that, the efforts to restore international cricket to Pakistan must continue. Small bit of positive news over time will multiply.
 
silentkiller187 said:
This is the wrong attitude, you cant say the country is safe when we are pulling out presidential style security for teams just for the sake of a cricket match. Once players start coming of their own accord only then will it be safe. don't forget sri lanka was at the center of the original atrocities, therefore it is understandable some players may have reservations.
Click to expand...

It may also be the players' families who are refusing not the players themselves
 
Rana said:
If He isn’t available for Sri Lanka, he should not receive an NOC to play CPL.
Click to expand...

Players have been given the freedom to choose whether they wish to tour or not, CPL is the better option, security wise as well as financially, who can blame him.
 
I don't even recognize 90% of those players.

Such an anonymous side Lanka have become.
 
shah_1 said:
B team of Sri Lanka

We should also play our B team as well
Click to expand...

The only problem with this is you are punishing the players that do tour.

It would be better to host the players that do want to tour and show everyone how successful the tour can be.

Play your B team and everyone will think Pakistan dont really care.
 
We toured Sri Lanka during their civil war iirc when most teams refused.

This isn't how you repay it

Are you just wasting too much money now?
We're giving them presidential level security and still they can't come?
 
ataullah said:
Expect same to happen for PSL5
Click to expand...

We should only allow two overseas players in the playing 11 if it is the case, you don't want overseas raliu kethas in the team.

Big bash is very successful, promoting local talent.
 
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This was bound to happen as it did before too when SL sent their B and C players.

Pakistan isn't a safe country and neither has any attractions like India as they have Bollywood and clubs and all to relax and enjoy where as Pakistan doesn't have them lavish things to keep their minds fresh. :steyn
 
This is a problem. PCB is having to work two fold. Convince a board and then convince the players.

When 10 main players pull out and a weakened B or C team plays, it defeats the purpose of PCB working hard to make such security arrangements. Because at the end of the day players have pulled out and while SL may be comfortable sending a weak team and coping with a whitewash other boards may not be.

PCB needs to find a way to convince.the players. If they can convince the players, board should be easy to convince.
 
cricketjoshila said:
This is a problem. PCB is having to work two fold. Convince a board and then convince the players.

When 10 main players pull out and a weakened B or C team plays, it defeats the purpose of PCB working hard to make such security arrangements. Because at the end of the day players have pulled out and while SL may be comfortable sending a weak team and coping with a whitewash other boards may not be.

PCB needs to find a way to convince.the players. If they can convince the players, board should be easy to convince.
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Well in this case players actually matter less, Because for security purpose and proving security playing matters. Obviously for us fans its not great as we are going to see point less games as Pakistan is most likely white wash them easily.
 
Deewana Mastana said:
This was bound to happen as it did before too when SL sent their B and C players.

Pakistan isn't a safe country and neither has any attractions like India as they have Bollywood and clubs and all to relax and enjoy where as Pakistan doesn't have them lavish things to keep their minds fresh. :steyn
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I don't see how you came up with "not a safe country".
Most terrorist attacks happen in the Balochistan region.
The crime rate is low in most areas of Pakistan.
You have the option to go where it is safe in pakistan
So pls stop with your ignorance
 
Let's see if the series still goes through. Sarfraz and Hafeez better not be picked though.
 
And how weak is the srilankan board?
Couldn't convince TEN players?
That's just pure incompetence
 
Can't let these D grade players hold the PCB ransom for money. People smell desperation and that is what these players are trying to exploit
 
Savak said:
Can't let these D grade players hold the PCB ransom for money. People smell desperation and that is what these players are trying to exploit
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I'm sure they're being played 3x more than their actual value.
If their main players are not coming what's the point??
The pak public will find it boring and it won't help with our image either
It'll just show that the top players are concerned for their safety
 
Pakistani public will turn out in large numbers regardless of the quality of the players touring as they did for Zimbabwe.
 
We should play our B team let the main players play domestic matches as they need to be in 4 day form when they go to australia. We will not get benefit by playing this weak Lankan side
 
PCB could use this opportunity to hunt for new talent in power hitting and express pace. I would choose some combination of the following;

Fakhar Zaman (c)
Faheem Ashraf
Asif Ali
Khushdil Shah
Nasir Nawaz
Sohail Akhtar
Mukhtar Ahmed
Nauman Anwar
Amir Yameen
Umer Khan
Zafar Gohar
Mohammad Hasnain
Mohammad Musa
Arshad Iqbal
Naseem Shah
Shaheen Afridi
Mohammad Ilyas
Haris Rauf
 
I wish icc announce some thing meaningful for future of bilateral odis otherwise financially weak cricket board will not hesitate to compensate players by allowing them in t20 leagues and sending their B team for tour
 
This is ridiculous. If security is the reason then let me assure you guys Pakistan is safer than Sri Lanka itself. Its just disappointing to see B squads coming to Pakistan. Things have improved a lot than what it was 10 years ago. Doesn't make sense why would you not tour Pakistan.
 
saeed5646 said:
I wish icc announce some thing meaningful for future of bilateral odis otherwise financially weak cricket board will not hesitate to compensate players by allowing them in t20 leagues and sending their B team for tour
Click to expand...

Will be interesting to see what happens with the Test matches, since they are part of WTC.

If so many players are unwilling to come then we might have to host them outside Pakistan :29:
 
The PCB needs to get an official security clearance from the ICC. If the ICC gives an all clear, any member which still refuses to tour should be fined and threatened with suspension of membership
 
Money talks...player walks.

Pay them enough and they'll change their mind.
 
It’s a shame that established players won’t be coming but on the bright side at least we have 3 ODI’s and 2 T20’s to look forward to rather than the usual one T20 in Lahore.

There is progress to say the least, even though it’s a small one.

PCB should not cancel the series - but neither should they take out the chequebook to convince the established players.
 
At this point it's about playing the matches over and over until the idea of hosting cricket safely in Pakistan is normalized. There's not enough credibility at this point. Doesn't matter if it is SRL or anyone else. With no relations with Bangladesh and Zimbabwe crashing, Sri Lanka, West Indies, and perhaps South Africa are the best prospects for continuing to rebuild the reputation of safe cricket in Pakistan.

Once the economy improves I think you will see more tours by first choice sides.
 
Abdullah719 said:
Will be interesting to see what happens with the Test matches, since they are part of WTC.

If so many players are unwilling to come then we might have to host them outside Pakistan :29:
Click to expand...

Exactly my point .One thing is for sure that will be straight "No or "Yes" from sl board due to importance of test championship.
 
Ronaldo7 said:
I don't see how you came up with "not a safe country".
Most terrorist attacks happen in the Balochistan region.
The crime rate is low in most areas of Pakistan.
You have the option to go where it is safe in pakistan
So pls stop with your ignorance
Click to expand...

'Safe' as in the sense of the current situation with India and Kashmir.

I am not ignorant or picturing Pakistan negatively but as it goes there is a reason why top cricketers are not willing to tour.
 
Might as well cancel the tour.

Very disappointed.

Remember we also used to send our teams during Sri Lanka’s tough time...

Sad state of affairs.

Nonetheless Pakistan will be able to see its own futures talent succeed.
 
Pakistan should play their best thrash their B team so that the general SriLankan public raises the issue of CPL/ less money than us
 
It's about time PCB franchises remember the guys who won't tour Pakistan and ignore them from the PSL.
 
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The image needs to improve.

Teams will tour once infrastructure improves.

If you have to give presidential level security to a team and not let them roam freely to prove that it is safe, doesn't that give the impression it really isn't?

Just needs time.

We can still play against Sri Lanka B and Zim C and Afghan B and Australia B.

Gradually things will change.
 
PCB shouldn't do anything stupid this is SL board internal matter and one cannot do anything about it .Pcb already have many enemies and going against sl board will be disastrous and won.t help one bit.

The only positive pcb have they will generate alot of money from this tour and they should look.to maximize that opportunity which should be goal of the tour
 
Deewana Mastana said:
'Safe' as in the sense of the current situation with India and Kashmir.

I am not ignorant or picturing Pakistan negatively but as it goes there is a reason why top cricketers are not willing to tour.
Click to expand...

They're not coming in as regular citizens.
They're been given presidential style security.

It's disappointing to see the amount of money we're wasting just to receive rellu kattas
 
Cancel the tour, no point then.

Let's stage the full PSL in Pakistan first then hopefully the ice will break.
 
A bit surprised to see players pulling out at the last minute. If they are given presidential security, I don't see any issue.
 
Ronaldo7 said:
They're not coming in as regular citizens.
They're been given presidential style security.

It's disappointing to see the amount of money we're wasting just to receive rellu kattas
Click to expand...

That is why said so, no point in wasting all that money and providing presidential security for C team players as PCB has been there and done that before.

Would make sense that they rather cancel the tour and invest that money into the domestic cricket instead and make sure that they showcase that properly.
 
That’s Sri Lanka core players who don’t want to travel. Will be Sri Lanka B that we play. Hopefully the games are incident free off the pitch.
 
ahmedzee said:
This is ridiculous. If security is the reason then let me assure you guys Pakistan is safer than Sri Lanka itself. Its just disappointing to see B squads coming to Pakistan. Things have improved a lot than what it was 10 years ago. Doesn't make sense why would you not tour Pakistan.
Click to expand...

Sheesh. Since when does your assurety as an anonymous poster mean anything at all? Please think before you post.
 
Ronaldo7 said:
We toured Sri Lanka during their civil war iirc when most teams refused.

This isn't how you repay it

Are you just wasting too much money now?
We're giving them presidential level security and still they can't come?
Click to expand...

Were Pakistani cricketers ever specifically targeted for bombing/assassination as were SL cricketers?
 
Saj said:
Money talks...player walks.

Pay them enough and they'll change their mind.
Click to expand...


There is no news on PCB paying Sri Lanka players to travel. 2009 could still be on their minds you don’t know. You don’t need to be so harsh on them. If they think Pakistan is unsafe, why should they risk their themselves for a game?


For those who will jump on me for saying Pakistan is unsafe, I think it is safe but you have to understand that the rest of the world doesn’t share the same view.
 
I think this is something to do with senior player's IPL connections or being hopeful for an IPL contract.
 
Can't blame them at all.

2030 is more realistic in terms of gaining international trust but I also understand that small steps will lead to that direction.
 
Blistering Barnacle said:
Were Pakistani cricketers ever specifically targeted for bombing/assassination as were SL cricketers?
Click to expand...

Were they been given presidential security then?

If you were involved in that incident then I can see why you may not want to come

But if you were not, then there's no proper excuse
 
This will be a worthless series. Why spend so much time and effort playing a B or C team??
 
Great chance for Fakhar to score a couple of doubles and Shinwari to take 5fers for fun, not sure why people are upset.
 
Sounds like a lot of these guys are just using the security excuse so that they can go and play T20 cricket elsewhere in the world. This is more about money than it is security.
 
This is just plain dissapointing.
Time for Sarfaraz to thrash the mighty Lankans and quell the doubts about his leadership and potential removal as captain with a convincing whitewash.
 
Disappointing but this doesn't make the series pointless. It'll showcase yet again that Pakistan can host cricket matches safely.
 
It is not a meaningless series. The games should happen and we should win them convincingly doesn't matter who the opposition is. First time it will be a B team, next year it may become an A team - need to start somewhere. There's nothing better than advertising your country whichever way possible and we need to put up a show.
 
Gabbar Singh said:
Sounds like a lot of these guys are just using the security excuse so that they can go and play T20 cricket elsewhere in the world. This is more about money than it is security.
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Very true.

Some were in Pakistan in 2018 and 2017, yet now Pakistan is unsafe.
 
Deewana Mastana said:
This was bound to happen as it did before too when SL sent their B and C players.

Pakistan isn't a safe country and neither has any attractions like India as they have Bollywood and clubs and all to relax and enjoy where as Pakistan doesn't have them lavish things to keep their minds fresh. :steyn
Click to expand...

Exactly nothing to do. Always worried what’s gonna happen with repeat of last time. Players basically go from stadium to play and back to the hotel. It’s like a prison. I can see why some players would rather play CPL. good competitive cricket, great atmosphere, amazing sights and things to do. Good money. No security risks and can have a family holiday.
 
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