"Players had to stay inside the hotel. I got fed up staying for three or four days" : SLC President

[Abdullah719]

"Players had to stay inside the hotel. I got fed up staying for three or four days" : SLC President

While Sri Lanka’s cricketers came through a magnificent series in Pakistan, the team’s big boss Shammi Silva was disgusted to the point that a subsequent Test tour of the same country in December has been put in doubt only hours after the players expressed a willingness to play again without reservations.

Silva made the revelation when the triumphant Sri Lankans returned with their trophy to meet the Press at a simple ceremony.

“The players had to stay inside the hotel. I got fed up staying for three or four days. We have to talk to the players and support staff and see how this will affect the Test series”, Silva told reporters, some of them confused by his expressions.

“There was good bonding without the wives. Too much freedom is also bad for the players. They have to go shopping and go out and eat somewhere.

“They have biological needs. So they have to go out and see the world. They cannot stay in their rooms. So we have to talk to them,” Silva further said.

His remarks were somewhat of a contrast to that of his veteran secretary Mohan de Silva who also toured Pakistan with the 17 players and had only praise for the team and their extremely hospitable hosts in Pakistan.

“They are heroic young Lions who recorded a historic whitewash against the Number One team (Pakistan)”, De Silva said.

“They spontaneously agreed to tour and demonstrate their skills and talents and I would like to thank the Pakistan Cricket Board and their government for ensuring the highest level of security. They delivered a lot more than was promised to us.”

Team manager Ashantha de Mel however tried to clarify Shammi Silva’s expressions saying a “senior team” will always want to break out from the confines of their hotel.

“What the president (Shammi Silva) is saying is that the younger players were focussed to perform and take up the pressure. When you take the main team and go, they are already established. They are used to their normal things.

“The youngsters wanted to go anywhere and perform to get into the (permanent) side. A Test match takes in 10 days unlike the one-day series. We (myself and Shammi) owed it to Pakistan. They helped us a lot,” said De Mel.

Should Sri Lanka want a change for the subsequent Test series, Pakistan could be compelled to revert back to their adopted home-match venue in the United Arab Emirates which is touted as a sizzling shopping and entertainment capital especially suited for some Sri Lanka Cricket officials with a penchant for globe-trotting.

http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2019/1...s-played-well-without-wives-big-chief-was-fed

 

[SensiblePakFan]

Good to see them saying this out loud. If they themselves are alright with leaving the hotel, who are the pcb to keep them in?

 

[Savak]

Good to see them saying this out loud. If they themselves are alright with leaving the hotel, who are the pcb to keep them in?

The PCB should allow them to travel outside for leisure but with full security

 

[Shazzam]

Looks like this tour did nothing for the country.

 

[SensiblePakFan]

The PCB should allow them to travel outside for leisure but with full security

Just an escort, dont need full security.

 

[mgtow]

The whole point of the tour is to show Pakistan is safe to roam in and out. But with security? That sorta defeats the purpose now, does it not? Better be safe than sorry.

 

[Pakistanian]

Just an escort, dont need full security.

They should have choppers with cameras and police officers looking out for them like the NYPD

 

[Pakistanian]

Anyways, a lot of these old/middle aged board officials in south asia tend to be very emotional and say the most unprofessional stuff in the most incoherent ways.

 

[Shoaib88]

"biological needs"

 

[MenInG]

"biological needs"

Something lost in the translation
[MENTION=148996]Shoaib88[/MENTION] please check your PM and reply

 

[Cryin Out Loud]

Anyways, a lot of these old/middle aged board officials in south asia tend to be very emotional and say the most unprofessional stuff in the most incoherent ways.

"Unprofessional stuff incoherent ways- This about sums it up.

Just reading his quotes, I though the Silva guy was on something potent.

 

[MenInG]

Seems going a little OTT our friend

The Sri Lanka cricket team returned home after a historic 3-0 whitewash against the top-ranked T20I team Pakistan. However, the country's cricket board president said that despite the security arrangements, having to stay in a hotel and having to wait for roads to be closed was not easy. "The players had to stay inside the hotel. I got fed up staying for three or four days. We have to talk to the players and support staff and see how this will affect the Test series," Sri Lanka Cricket President Shammi Silva was quoted as saying by the Ceylon Daily News.

Sri Lanka are scheduled to return to Pakistan for a Test series in December. But Silva said that the board would need to talk to the players as being cooped up in hotel rooms was not ideal for them.

"Pakistan are very happy and grateful to Sri Lanka for sending the team. But we have to assess and see whether it is viable to play Test matches there because they are of five days duration and the players have to be inside the hotel," he said.

"The roads are closed the process takes about half an hour to close the roads and they won't allow you to move. It's not easy, mentally it's tough. We owed something to Pakistan because they've always helped us. We were able to bear it up for the sake of Pakistan but how much can you bear?" he said.

Silva did point out a positive from the players' situation.

"There was good bonding without the wives. Too much freedom is also bad for the players," he said.

However, he pointed out that the players could only stay indoors for so long.

"They have to go shopping and go out and eat somewhere," he said. "They have biological needs. So they have to go out and see the world. They cannot stay in their rooms. So we have to talk to them," Silva added.

Sri Lanka returned to Pakistan for the first time since the team was the target of a terrorist attack in 2009. Sri Lanka sent a weakened squad, with several established members opting out of the tour. Pakistan won the three-match ODI series 2-0, with the first match washed out by rain, but Sri Lanka redeemed themselves in the T20I series, winning all the three matches thanks to some brilliant performances by youngsters coming into the team.

https://sports.ndtv.com/cricket/pak...th-pakistans-security-measures-report-2116137

 

[Sher Khan]

Its okay. People are reacting as if they didnt know about all of this. Ofcourse, teams in Pakistan are restrained to the team hotel- and rightly so for now.

Their is no harm in the SLC president making this loud and clear. Teams have a security issue of not touring Pakistan. EVERYONE knows that in the current state if you were to tour Pakistan, you would be confined to the team hotel. It is not news to anyone.

 

[DRsohail]

Tour has done more damage ...

 

[Titan24]

As I have said previously as well, it’s high time Pak starts treating these tours normally.

 

[Pakistanian]

Pakistan should call this Silva guy out, they literally paid them boatloads of money to tour Pakistan, he should've stayed professional instead of having a nervous breakdown. The western players know what to say when they're on the clock but this silva guy is acting like the typical emotionally unstable brown uncle.

 

[Abdullah719]

Pakistan should call this Silva guy out, they literally paid them boatloads of money to tour Pakistan, he should've stayed professional instead of having a nervous breakdown. The western players know what to say when they're on the clock but this silva guy is acting like the typical emotionally unstable brown uncle.

SL weren't paid anything extra, though there would have been considerable money spent on security etc.

 

[barah_admi]

How is this massively unusual to teams touring India, and or sl itself ? It's not.

 

[MenInG]

Seemed pretty happy when accepting mementos....

 

[Bhaijaan]

We should give SLC President the benefit of the doubt for he too has biological needs.

If these things don't come out they could lead to depression.

 

[cricketjoshila]

May be the senior players have again refused to tour. And SLC do not want to risk sending a C team and lose Test Championship points.

And he is laying a base for the refusal.

 

[Tiger96]

Many International players have described Pakistan as the most boring Destination among the Cricket World , where there is not much to do apart from playing Cricket .

2 months of Stay and same boring routine.

Now add to that the factor of potential threat to the life of players , no wonder most of the First String side members of even the SL team refused to tour Pakistan.

 

[Saj]

He should have gone home if he was that bored.

Talk of being ungrateful.

 

[Savak]

He should have gone home if he was that bored.

Talk of being ungrateful.

Difficult to please such people. He would still be moaning if the security was light. Also extremely unprofessional comments, I hope his bank accounts are searched for deposits from the BCCI

 

[The streak is Alive]

He should have gone home if he was that bored.

Talk of being ungrateful.

What should he be grateful for? The memorabilia or for the hospitality? In fact the PCB owes a great deal to SLC for being the first major country to visit Pak.

As for the issue of players feeling stifled in terms their movement being curtailed, this is a legit issue. Danushka Gunathilaka made similar comments. It goes to show how Pakistan is not ready yet to host International teams and as such there is no point in rushing the return of Intl cricket to Pakistan. Better safe than sorry like they say.

 

[cricketjoshila]

He should have gone home if he was that bored.

Talk of being ungrateful.

He should be grateful for letting the SL team tour Pakistan?

Conditions in Pakistan are not the same as in other countries. Thats a truth Pakistanis have to accept and then convince teams to adjust within the limitations.

PCB cannot say situation is normal and keep the team confined to the hotels.

 

[MenInG]

He should be grateful for letting the SL team tour Pakistan?

Conditions in Pakistan are not the same as in other countries. Thats a truth Pakistanis have to accept and then convince teams to adjust within the limitations.

PCB cannot say situation is normal and keep the team confined to the hotels.

According to reports they were offered many tours of the city and golf etc - they refused.

 

[fitCricFan]

The visiting team was the responsibility of the Govt and if the authorities felt that it was not safe for the Players to go out alone, they were right in denying that to the players.

Did you see the kind of security & escort to the Sri Lankans. That was insane, not to mention the hardship caused to the locals due to closed & blocked roads.

 

[Saj]

He should be grateful for letting the SL team tour Pakistan?

Conditions in Pakistan are not the same as in other countries. Thats a truth Pakistanis have to accept and then convince teams to adjust within the limitations.

PCB cannot say situation is normal and keep the team confined to the hotels.

They didn't confine the Sri Lankans to the hotel.

In addition, these officials were not forced to tour Pakistan.

 

[Markhor]

Getting paid to sit in a hotel, it's a tough world.

 

[SensiblePakFan]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">You enjoy the hospitality of your hosts, then go home & say this (SLC President Shammi Silva) "the players had to stay inside the hotel. I got fed up staying for three or four days. We have to talk to the players & support staff & see how this will affect the Test series" <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PAKvSL?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PAKvSL</a></p>— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) <a href="https://twitter.com/Saj_PakPassion/status/1183302569965305856?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 13, 2019</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Asks for maximum security, then complains about not leaving the hotel.
Hypocrisy if youve ever seen it.

 

[Diffusion]

Why are some people under the impression that it's Pakistan who were doing SL a favour by hosting the tour?

Anyways it's a legit concern. A 3 match test series takes the best part of a month, and that's a long time to be stuck away in a hotel.

 

[Indiafan]

He should have gone home if he was that bored.

Talk of being ungrateful.

You keep using the word ungrateful and it seems really weird to me. How was PCB doing a favor to Sri Lankan board officials? What is there about being grateful here?

Also shouldn't you be glad this guy is bringing up genuine concerns which can stop other teams from touring in the future, so they can be addressed by PCB and accommodated for future teams?

 

[Indiafan]

Why are some people under the impression that it's Pakistan who were doing SL a favour by hosting the tour?

Anyways it's a legit concern. A 3 match test series takes the best part of a month, and that's a long time to be stuck away in a hotel.

It's the weirdest thing. None of these people even needed to tour Pak which didnt have such matches for 10 years. Yet they came to Pakistan. But somehow the touring people should be grateful and keep quiet? What?

 

[cricketjoshila]

According to reports they were offered many tours of the city and golf etc - they refused.

The PCB needs to comeout and say this like the SLC did.

Reports doesnot do PCB any good.

All i am seeing is that the SLC chief is laying the ground work for a refusal to tour. PCB has to come out and counter it.

 

[cricketjoshila]

They didn't confine the Sri Lankans to the hotel.

In addition, these officials were not forced to tour Pakistan.

The officials came as their team was touring.

I am basing my comments on what the SLC chief said, if things are not true, the PCB has to come out and counter it.

 

[MenInG]

Karachi: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has expressed its disappointment at Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) chief Shammi Silva's remarks that his team felt stifled by the strict security arrangements during their recently-concluded tour of Pakistan.

The Sri Lankan team played a three-match ODI series in Karachi followed by a three-match T20 series in Lahore, where they registered a historic 3-0 win over the top-ranked hosts. On returning to Colombo, Silva had reportedly told the media that the Sri Lankan players were fed up with being confined to their hotel for three to four days in Pakistan.

A PCB source said top officials had communicated their displeasure with SLC after learning about Silva's comments. "The PCB is very disappointed and hurt over such comments as presidential level security was provided to the visiting team on the insistence of their board. We wanted to make their stay as comfortable as possible," the source said.

The visitors were without 10 of their main players who opted out of the tour due to security concerns but the squad was accompanied by SLC president and secretary and the Sri Lankan sports minister.

The source said the PCB has reminded Lankan board officials that the players were given the option of going out to play golf and do some shopping while they were also entertained at official dinners and functions.

Silva's remarks have come as a surprise for the PCB which is keen to build on the recent tour and have the full Sri Lankan team play two Tests of the ICC World Championship in Pakistan in December. The PCB is also trying to host the entire edition of the fifth Pakistan Super League in the country besides inviting Bangladesh to play its Test series in Pakistan.

The source added that although some strong security measures were in place for the visiting players but remarks such as they were "fed-up" after being confined to their hotel were not fair.

https://www.news18.com/cricketnext/...i-silvas-comments-about-security-2344785.html

 

[SensiblePakFan]

Solid response from the PCB.

 

[MenInG]

Solid response from the PCB.

not official - but guess better this way

 

[cricketjoshila]

not official - but guess better this way

It isnt actually. It needs to be from PCB. So that other boards and players hear it.

Right now it looks like playerd were.under hotel arrest.

 

[JibranAnsari]

Pakistan at the moment is pretty safe but Pakistan does is show the tourists fool proof security as if outside the security circle things are really really bad. Definitely the foreign players and officials will find it difficult to roam around the city when they feel that there is a lot of danger in the city for them. Either pakistan is safe for the tourists or its not , there should be no grey areas. If you are asking a team to play a test series in Pakistan , they will have to stay in pakistan for two weeks and at least and everytime they go out they can not have presidential level security and shut down the city. Next time if pakistan is going to invite a team , they have to show that pakistan is safe and not that the players will have presidential level security.

 

[Pakhs]

I think this is a fair concern its also can give visiting team a unfair advantage as they can concentrate on just cricket which can help them perform better. Professionals these days in all walk of life feel the need to go out and socialise and thats why productivity at works places are low compare to past.

 

[Saj]

The officials came as their team was touring.

I am basing my comments on what the SLC chief said, if things are not true, the PCB has to come out and counter it.

The PCB doesn't need to disclose all details regarding security or what the Lankan squad could or could not do.

The officials weren't forced to come to Pakistan, it was their choice.

 

[ahsan17]

Conditions in Pakistan are not the same as in other countries. Thats a truth Pakistanis have to accept and then convince teams to adjust within the limitations.

Are you talking about perception, or ground reality based on data?

 

[Abdullah719]

SLC barking up the wrong tree

Following a series of setbacks, Sri Lankan cricket fans are on a high after their team completed a 3-0 whitewash of Pakistan in their own backyard last week. Pakistan Cricket Board must be congratulated for putting up a splendid show as the six games in Lahore and Karachi were played in front of packed houses. A nation that has great admiration for the sport is overjoyed as international cricket is gradually returning to the country.

Sri Lanka’s cricketers who were in Pakistan got a first hand experience of what it means to be Donald Trump after they were provided with security that is usually accorded to heads of state.

Statements attributed to the hierarchy of Sri Lanka Cricket on security in Pakistan has left a bitter taste among most people in that country. SLC officials have literally ruled out playing the two match Test series in Pakistan and instead want to go to a neutral venue like UAE. SLC’s grumble is that there is too much security in Pakistan and the players are confined to their hotels and that it is difficult doing that over a longer duration.

One is intrigued. It is the SLC that requested military type security during the team’s stay in Pakistan. When the military takes over, they run it in their own style leaving no stone unturned in protecting the team. PCB has attracted lot of criticism from their own public as roads were closed when the team was on the move inconveniencing the general public.

Furthermore, the Sri Lankan team has been offered several sight seeing visits and off the field activities like playing golf and visiting shopping malls. The team management in return had requested to stay indoors and cancelled even official team dinners hosted by Chief Ministers. Having done all that, it is unfair for SLC to say that it is not ideal for the Test series to be played in Pakistan.

Whatever the reservations SLC had, that should have been conveyed across the table rather than putting them out in public domain.

It is also unfair for SLC to expect them to be hosted in UAE rather than Pakistan. This is Pakistan’s home series and playing at neutral venues is costing PCB an arm and a leg. For a day, the cost of playing in UAE is said to be over 250,000 US$.

Pakistan has been Sri Lanka’s biggest ally when it comes to cricket. As old timers like former Board Secretary Neil Perera says, SLC wouldn’t have got Test status in 1981 if not for the efforts of Abdul Hafeez Kardar, Pakistan’s first ever Test captain and later the President of the cricket board.

Pakistan players generous gesture of coming to Colombo less than a month after the Central Bank bombing in 1996 to play a friendly match alongside several Indian players went a long way in saving Sri Lanka from cricket isolation.

PCB was the first board to send a cricket team to Sri Lanka soon after the Easter Sunday bombings. A week after the April 21st carnage, Pakistan Under-19 team visited the island.

A friendly approach is what is required towards a loyal friend. Not barking up the wrong tree.

http://www.island.lk/index.php?page_cat=article-details&page=article-details&code_title=212158

 

[Realromeo]

SLC barking up the wrong tree

Following a series of setbacks, Sri Lankan cricket fans are on a high after their team completed a 3-0 whitewash of Pakistan in their own backyard last week. Pakistan Cricket Board must be congratulated for putting up a splendid show as the six games in Lahore and Karachi were played in front of packed houses. A nation that has great admiration for the sport is overjoyed as international cricket is gradually returning to the country.

Sri Lanka’s cricketers who were in Pakistan got a first hand experience of what it means to be Donald Trump after they were provided with security that is usually accorded to heads of state.

Statements attributed to the hierarchy of Sri Lanka Cricket on security in Pakistan has left a bitter taste among most people in that country. SLC officials have literally ruled out playing the two match Test series in Pakistan and instead want to go to a neutral venue like UAE. SLC’s grumble is that there is too much security in Pakistan and the players are confined to their hotels and that it is difficult doing that over a longer duration.

One is intrigued. It is the SLC that requested military type security during the team’s stay in Pakistan. When the military takes over, they run it in their own style leaving no stone unturned in protecting the team. PCB has attracted lot of criticism from their own public as roads were closed when the team was on the move inconveniencing the general public.

Furthermore, the Sri Lankan team has been offered several sight seeing visits and off the field activities like playing golf and visiting shopping malls. The team management in return had requested to stay indoors and cancelled even official team dinners hosted by Chief Ministers. Having done all that, it is unfair for SLC to say that it is not ideal for the Test series to be played in Pakistan.

Whatever the reservations SLC had, that should have been conveyed across the table rather than putting them out in public domain.

It is also unfair for SLC to expect them to be hosted in UAE rather than Pakistan. This is Pakistan’s home series and playing at neutral venues is costing PCB an arm and a leg. For a day, the cost of playing in UAE is said to be over 250,000 US$.

Pakistan has been Sri Lanka’s biggest ally when it comes to cricket. As old timers like former Board Secretary Neil Perera says, SLC wouldn’t have got Test status in 1981 if not for the efforts of Abdul Hafeez Kardar, Pakistan’s first ever Test captain and later the President of the cricket board.

Pakistan players generous gesture of coming to Colombo less than a month after the Central Bank bombing in 1996 to play a friendly match alongside several Indian players went a long way in saving Sri Lanka from cricket isolation.

PCB was the first board to send a cricket team to Sri Lanka soon after the Easter Sunday bombings. A week after the April 21st carnage, Pakistan Under-19 team visited the island.

A friendly approach is what is required towards a loyal friend. Not barking up the wrong tree.

http://www.island.lk/index.php?page_cat=article-details&page=article-details&code_title=212158

LOL this is funyy. Which atheletes want to have dinners with corrupt south asian politics and be used for publicity? Also going out with teammates and going out with 50 commandos and an attack helicopter is not the same. Google search up shows SLCB president said he himself will come on tour to lure the main 10 players into going. Who knows maybe if he didn't come half of these players wouldn't have gone either.

 

[Abdullah719]

Take what SLC says with pinch of salt – Arjuna

World Cup winning former captain Arjuna Ranatunga is concerned that Sri Lanka Cricket could end up staining the excellent relationship the country has with Pakistan following public statements that it is not possible to resume Test cricket in Pakistan as yet. The national cricket team completed a two week tour of Pakistan where they played three ODIs in Karachi and three T-20s in Lahore. Although PCB is keen to host Sri Lanka for a two match Test series at home, SLC officials have ruled out the possibility claiming it is extremely hard for players to be confined to their hotels during a Test series.

"I am sure the public statements by our officials must be upsetting Pakistan. They are doing their best to bring cricket back into the country and statements like these doesn’t help their cause. As a former captain, I must congratulate PCB for the excellent show they put up during our recent visit," Ranatunga said when contacted by The Island.

"All what I can tell the PCB is that don’t take what officials over here say too seriously. Neither do they understand the game nor what security is."

"Despite representing the country for 19 years, I couldn’t play 100 Test matches. Aravinda played on for 20 years and still ended up with 93 Tests. The reason being during our prime, we received little opportunities. Not many teams toured Sri Lanka in 1980s due to the war. We suffered enough and we know what it means to be deprived of playing cricket at home."

"We see Pakistan suffering the same fate and we all must try and help them out. It’s a shame that SLC is not doing enough to help PCB. People running the game at present perhaps do not know how much Pakistan helped us during our early days."

"Whatever the disagreements you have, that should have been addressed in private. You shouldn’t be running down another country and that too a friendly nation like Pakistan," Rantunga went onto add.

SLC has expressed its displeasure in playing the Test series in Pakistan and instead have requested the series to be played in UAE. Apparently, it costs PCB more than US$ 250,000 per day to host an international team in the gulf.

http://www.island.lk/index.php?page_cat=article-details&page=article-details&code_title=212185

 

[Savak]

Take what SLC says with pinch of salt – Arjuna

World Cup winning former captain Arjuna Ranatunga is concerned that Sri Lanka Cricket could end up staining the excellent relationship the country has with Pakistan following public statements that it is not possible to resume Test cricket in Pakistan as yet. The national cricket team completed a two week tour of Pakistan where they played three ODIs in Karachi and three T-20s in Lahore. Although PCB is keen to host Sri Lanka for a two match Test series at home, SLC officials have ruled out the possibility claiming it is extremely hard for players to be confined to their hotels during a Test series.

"I am sure the public statements by our officials must be upsetting Pakistan. They are doing their best to bring cricket back into the country and statements like these doesn’t help their cause. As a former captain, I must congratulate PCB for the excellent show they put up during our recent visit," Ranatunga said when contacted by The Island.

"All what I can tell the PCB is that don’t take what officials over here say too seriously. Neither do they understand the game nor what security is."

"Despite representing the country for 19 years, I couldn’t play 100 Test matches. Aravinda played on for 20 years and still ended up with 93 Tests. The reason being during our prime, we received little opportunities. Not many teams toured Sri Lanka in 1980s due to the war. We suffered enough and we know what it means to be deprived of playing cricket at home."

"We see Pakistan suffering the same fate and we all must try and help them out. It’s a shame that SLC is not doing enough to help PCB. People running the game at present perhaps do not know how much Pakistan helped us during our early days."

"Whatever the disagreements you have, that should have been addressed in private. You shouldn’t be running down another country and that too a friendly nation like Pakistan," Rantunga went onto add.

SLC has expressed its displeasure in playing the Test series in Pakistan and instead have requested the series to be played in UAE. Apparently, it costs PCB more than US$ 250,000 per day to host an international team in the gulf.

http://www.island.lk/index.php?page_cat=article-details&page=article-details&code_title=212185

Couldn't have come up with a better statement of support. Well done to Arjuna Ranatunga

 

[SensiblePakFan]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Arjuna Ranatunga "As a former captain, I must congratulate PCB for the excellent show they put up during our recent visit. All what I can tell the PCB is that don’t take what officials over here say too seriously. Neither do they understand the game nor what security is" <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PAKvSL?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PAKvSL</a></p>— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) <a href="https://twitter.com/Saj_PakPassion/status/1184876627429380097?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 17, 2019</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The legend himself has spoken.

 

[Realromeo]

Take what SLC says with pinch of salt – Arjuna

World Cup winning former captain Arjuna Ranatunga is concerned that Sri Lanka Cricket could end up staining the excellent relationship the country has with Pakistan following public statements that it is not possible to resume Test cricket in Pakistan as yet. The national cricket team completed a two week tour of Pakistan where they played three ODIs in Karachi and three T-20s in Lahore. Although PCB is keen to host Sri Lanka for a two match Test series at home, SLC officials have ruled out the possibility claiming it is extremely hard for players to be confined to their hotels during a Test series.

"I am sure the public statements by our officials must be upsetting Pakistan. They are doing their best to bring cricket back into the country and statements like these doesn’t help their cause. As a former captain, I must congratulate PCB for the excellent show they put up during our recent visit," Ranatunga said when contacted by The Island.

"All what I can tell the PCB is that don’t take what officials over here say too seriously. Neither do they understand the game nor what security is."

"Despite representing the country for 19 years, I couldn’t play 100 Test matches. Aravinda played on for 20 years and still ended up with 93 Tests. The reason being during our prime, we received little opportunities. Not many teams toured Sri Lanka in 1980s due to the war. We suffered enough and we know what it means to be deprived of playing cricket at home."

"We see Pakistan suffering the same fate and we all must try and help them out. It’s a shame that SLC is not doing enough to help PCB. People running the game at present perhaps do not know how much Pakistan helped us during our early days."

"Whatever the disagreements you have, that should have been addressed in private. You shouldn’t be running down another country and that too a friendly nation like Pakistan," Rantunga went onto add.

SLC has expressed its displeasure in playing the Test series in Pakistan and instead have requested the series to be played in UAE. Apparently, it costs PCB more than US$ 250,000 per day to host an international team in the gulf.

http://www.island.lk/index.php?page_cat=article-details&page=article-details&code_title=212185

What a joke, I did some google and found he was once a SLC president and his brother was also a SLC president. How bias can he get ? Looks like he want his brother to get the position.

 

[KyoOne]

What a joke, I did some google and found he was once a SLC president and his brother was also a SLC president. How bias can he get ? Looks like he want his brother to get the position.

Lol what, where was "bias" in all this?

He's one of the greatest cricketer the Island has produced, and it is his right to criticise his board for its incompetence.

 

[MenInG]

Sri Lankan legend Kumar Sangakkara could return to Pakistan for the first time in 10 years. The former cricketer has not visited the nation ever since the Lankan team bus was attacked by terrorists during Sri Lanka’s tour to Pakistan in 2009. On their way to the stadium to play Day 3 of the second Test, the Sri Lankan team bus was attacked that effectively brought an end of international cricket in the country for many years.

Kumar Sangakkara may tour Pakistan

As the president of Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), the retired cricketer could make a public return to Pakistan if MCC sends a touring team to the country. While speaking with a news outlet, Sangakkara acknowledged that he would be a part of the tour if such an opportunity arises. After the attack on Lankan team, Zimbabwe then toured Pakistan to play a limited-overs series in 2015, thus marking the return of international cricket to the country after six years.

Most recently, the Sri Lankan team visited Pakistan for three ODI’s and three T20I matches. The visitors lost the ODI series 2-0 but came back strongly in the T20I series. Young Sri Lankan team blanked the host’s 3-0 in the format where Pakistan are ranked number 1 in ICC rankings.

The Pakistan national team will now be touring Australia for three T20I’s and two Test matches. The Test series between the two nations will form a part of the ongoing ICC World Test Championship. The series will also open Pakistan’s campaign in the inaugural edition. The tour will begin on October 31 and will conclude on December 3.

 

[MenInG]

<iframe src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/379444801" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; fullscreen" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<p><a href="https://vimeo.com/379444801">Sri Lanka players in a mall in Islamabad</a> from <a href="https://vimeo.com/user98619008">Green Man</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p>

Sri Lanka team visited a mall in Islamabad and met fans.

 

[King_Kohli]

Good

 

[SensiblePakFan]

Good to see sri lanka not fearing the goraa over security.

 

[Savak]

I am sure the hotels have access to a swimming pool, suana, gym, movie theatres, good quality food.

I am sure the players can play PlayStation in their rooms or watch movies.

How can it be impossible to stay in a hotel for so long inspite of having these luxuries?

 

[Realromeo]

<iframe src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/379444801" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; fullscreen" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<p><a href="https://vimeo.com/379444801">Sri Lanka players in a mall in Islamabad</a> from <a href="https://vimeo.com/user98619008">Green Man</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p>

Sri Lanka team visited a mall in Islamabad and met fans.

Karunaratna looks like the perfect media guy. Probably why SL appointed him as the captain.

 

[omairsiddiqui]

I see Dickwella there. Wonder if they called him De Silva at the mall too.

 

[BaankeJi]

I am sure the hotels have access to a swimming pool, suana, gym, movie theatres, good quality food.

I am sure the players can play PlayStation in their rooms or watch movies.

How can it be impossible to stay in a hotel for so long inspite of having these luxuries?

True. I can enjoy more at home than a mall.

 

[mgtow]

I am sure the hotels have access to a swimming pool, suana, gym, movie theatres, good quality food.

I am sure the players can play PlayStation in their rooms or watch movies.

How can it be impossible to stay in a hotel for so long inspite of having these luxuries?

They have these kind of access at home so why the need to tour Pakistan then. Apart from cricket, they need bit of exposure at outside to roam, travel and mingle. That is considered life in another word. Nobody likes to stay confined in small rooms inside the hotels for so long no matter what luxuries amnesties they offer.

Most of overseas Pakistanis couldn’t stay that long at home and miss the opportunity to gain exposure at outside - dining and whatnot.

 

[HappyWarsFan]

They have these kind of access at home so why the need to tour Pakistan then. Apart from cricket, they need bit of exposure at outside to roam, travel and mingle. That is considered life in another word. Nobody likes to stay confined in small rooms inside the hotels for so long no matter what luxuries amnesties they offer.

Most of overseas Pakistanis couldn’t stay that long at home and miss the opportunity to gain exposure at outside - dining and whatnot.

Not me. Give me a computer or game system and I will be happy anywhere. Won't care about going out anywhere.

 

[Flat_Track_Bully]

I am sure the hotels have access to a swimming pool, suana, gym, movie theatres, good quality food.

I am sure the players can play PlayStation in their rooms or watch movies.

How can it be impossible to stay in a hotel for so long inspite of having these luxuries?

Said no one ever. Its not the first time an international cricketer has stayed in a hotel or for anyone else for that matter.

Really need Pakistan safe enough for everyone to roam freely with ISI operating in the background unnoticed.

 

[mgtow]

Not me. Give me a computer or game system and I will be happy anywhere. Won't care about going out anywhere.

That is why you are not cricketer due to lack of exposure at outside.

 

[JibranAnsari]

I think during the last 2 and a half years tourist influx has increased in pakistan and pakistan has been twice named as the top 10 places a tourist should go in 2018 and 201o. Many famous travel and food vloggers have travelled across pakistan , from sialkot to the troubled northern areas. The security situation has improved a lot but definitely security concerns are real because last time terrorists specifically targetted a cricket team , but we need to understand that that was the time when there were nbomb blasts in pakistan literally every second day. Thankfully thats in the past now , i am a pessimistic person by nature and even i think that those days are far gone now and any touring cricketers are as safe here to sightseeing than anywhere else in the world.

 

[Mean&Green]

All the new Sri Lankan players have a lot of swagger and class about them they are well groomed and very disciplined especially the guy who’s not playing in this series Asela guraratne or something

 

[Realromeo]

I think during the last 2 and a half years tourist influx has increased in pakistan and pakistan has been twice named as the top 10 places a tourist should go in 2018 and 201o. Many famous travel and food vloggers have travelled across pakistan , from sialkot to the troubled northern areas. The security situation has improved a lot but definitely security concerns are real because last time terrorists specifically targetted a cricket team , but we need to understand that that was the time when there were nbomb blasts in pakistan literally every second day. Thankfully thats in the past now , i am a pessimistic person by nature and even i think that those days are far gone now and any touring cricketers are as safe here to sightseeing than anywhere else in the world.

Please provide some facts to back this up. Thanks

 

[prisha]

As srilankans have affinity towards Buddhism as Pakistan has rich history of Buddhism may be they would enjoy visiting sites

 

[JibranAnsari]

Please provide some facts to back this up. Thanks

What facts? These are facts bro , british backpackers termed pakistan as the top holiday destination in 2018 and another magazine the conde nast traveler termed pakistan as top destination for 2020. Check out eva zu beck , rosie gabriel and alex reynolds channles on youtube. There isnt any visble terrorism in pakistan any more and in the last 5 years pakistani army has worked hard to break the terrorism networks and executed a lot of terrorists. Pakistan isnt in news for terrorism presently , yes the past references are given. There was a skiing competition in skardu region of pakistan last year where many international skiiers took part and international trekkers come to visit pakistan for the challenging trekking paths in gilgit baltistan area. The situation of security isnt uncertain now , things seemingly look under control.

 

[ahsan17]

Please provide some facts to back this up. Thanks

Which part specifically? The tourist influx can be seen on youtube. There are a plethora of vloggers that have visited Pakistan and continue to do so in the last 18 months. As for the security situation, this data set makes it quite clear how much better security is now compared to 2009, and it's indisputable:

https://www.satp.org/datasheet-terrorist-attack/fatalities/pakistan

Pakistan is literally safer than when teams used to regular visit Pakistan, based on that data.

 

[Realromeo]

Which part specifically? The tourist influx can be seen on youtube. There are a plethora of vloggers that have visited Pakistan and continue to do so in the last 18 months. As for the security situation, this data set makes it quite clear how much better security is now compared to 2009, and it's indisputable:

https://www.satp.org/datasheet-terrorist-attack/fatalities/pakistan

Pakistan is literally safer than when teams used to regular visit Pakistan, based on that data.

Vloggers ? How man vloggers post videos about Paris ? Not much but does that mean Paris is laggin behind in tourists no ? I need to see tourists data. Not vlogs on youtube lol

 

[Fahdi]

Vloggers ? How man vloggers post videos about Paris ? Not much but does that mean Paris is laggin behind in tourists no ? I need to see tourists data. Not vlogs on youtube lol

There has been an increase in tourism and Pakistan has also been declared the number 1 tourist destination by Conde Nast Traveller.

There's a discussion on this very topic in Time Pass. Here:
http://www.pakpassion.net/ppforum/s...-vloggers-in-Pakistan&p=10584270#post10584270

 

[ahsan17]

Vloggers ? How man vloggers post videos about Paris ? Not much but does that mean Paris is laggin behind in tourists no ? I need to see tourists data. Not vlogs on youtube lol

With respect to the data, this might help then: https://www.dawn.com/news/1508132

As for vloggers, a LOT vloggers post about Paris. You can search on Youtube. Vloggers are also relevant, since the trend start in the last 18 odd months. It'is quite a large up tick, from nothing to dozens.

 

[MenInG]

Pictures from Sri Lanka team visit to a local restaurant in Karachi for dinner.

Spoiler

<iframe src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/380047551" width="640" height="362" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; fullscreen" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<p><a href="https://vimeo.com/380047551">Sri Lanka players having dinner</a> from <a href="https://vimeo.com/user98619008">Green Man</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p>