SLC Threatens Formal Review if Players Leave Pakistan; Remaining ODIs Rescheduled to Nov 14 & 16
Published: November 13, 2025
Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has warned members of the touring party that any attempt to leave the Pakistan tour without board approval will trigger a formal review, after several players expressed safety concerns following a suicide bombing in Islamabad.Authorities tightened security around the Sri Lankan touring party after the Islamabad attack.
Players raised concerns after Islamabad attack
Several Sri Lanka players and support staff asked to return home after a suicide bombing in Islamabad on Tuesday, prompting urgent meetings between team members, SLC officials, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) representatives and local security authorities. Players' families in Sri Lanka had also voiced concerns for their loved ones' safety.
Head coach Sanath Jayasuriya said the support staff were keen to stay and complete the tour, but the management listened to players' worries and engaged in lengthy discussions to address them.
SLC issues warning and assurances
Following the late-night deliberations, SLC issued a statement instructing the touring party to remain in Pakistan and continue with the scheduled matches. The board warned that any player or staff member who returns home against directives will face a formal review to assess their actions and determine appropriate consequences.
"If any player, players, or member of the support staff return despite SLC's directives, a formal review will be conducted to assess their actions." — SLC statement
SLC also stated it had worked "in close coordination with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the relevant authorities" to ensure the safety and well-being of every member of the touring party.
Matches postponed by a day
Because talks ended late and logistics were disrupted, the two remaining One Day Internationals (ODIs) in the series have been pushed back by a day. PCB chair and Pakistan's interior minister Mohsin Naqvi announced the fixtures will now be played on November 14 and November 16, instead of November 13 and 15. The first two matches of the subsequent T20I tri-series (including Zimbabwe) have also been postponed by a day and will now be played entirely in Rawalpindi.
Pakistan officials provide reassurances
As part of efforts to reassure the Sri Lankan side, Naqvi reportedly visited the team hotel to meet players and promised enhanced safety measures around the hotel, including dedicated elevators and dining areas. The Sri Lankan High Commissioner to Pakistan, Fred Siriweera, was also briefed and is understood to have expressed satisfaction with the security arrangements.
Background
Sri Lanka's team was the target of a terrorist attack in Lahore in 2009 — an episode that kept many international teams away from Pakistan for years. Sri Lanka were among the earlier sides to resume tours to Pakistan after that long hiatus, and this visit follows the ongoing effort to return international cricket to the country.