The latest attack on Karachi’s PNS Mehran Base has dimmed the chances of revival of international sports in the country but the Pakistan Cricket Board is still hopeful that their planned series against Sri Lanka later this would take place as scheduled. It has been learnt that despite the Sri Lanka Cricket’s cautious reply to Pakistan’s invitation, the PCB has again sent the invitation to host them for complete series.
The Sri Lankan board has made it clear to the PCB that it will follow safety clearance advice and after that it will make the final decision. The chances of hosting the series received a severe blow when terrorists attacked a naval base in Karachi, which is very close to the National Stadium. “We have received requests from Pakistan over the past three or four months. The PCB told us that they would like to host our team as scheduled in the FTP.
We told them that we need security clearance before sending a team there again,” SLC secretary Nishantha Ranatunga was quoted as saying by Cricinfo. Incidentally, during the island nation’s last tour of Pakistan in 2009, the Sri Lankan team bus was attacked by armed gunmen near the Gadaffi Stadium. The attack on the Lankan team not only cut short the tour but also resulted in the end of international cricket in Pakistan as all major cricket playing nations refused to visit the country, citing security fears.
The SLC interim committee chairman Somachandra de Silva said that they have received PCB’s invitation but have declined the offer to play the series in Pakistan. “We have replied to the PCB and await their confirmation. We are not going to play in Pakistan at this stage and have offered to host the series in our country,” de Dilva said. “If they agree to play in Sri Lanka they will have to bear the entire hosting costs. We have also expressed our willingness to play at a neutral venue in Dubai or Abu Dhabi,” he said.
An official of the board said that the SLC has been assured high-level security and they have sent a fresh invitation to them and are awaiting reply. “We have sent them a fresh invitation to play the series in October-November,” he added. “We are waiting for their response but we have given them full security assurances.” The teams have to play three Tests, five one-day internationals and one Twenty20 match as planed in the FTP.
However, another official of the board on condition of anonymity stated that it’s time to realise the situation and opt for other options. “The truth is that a military base has been attacked and who would come to a country which cannot protect its important and sensitive places.” The Karachi attack, the escape of two terrorists and the May 2 incident at Attottabad has shattered the confidence of everyone in the abilities of security agencies and in that backdrop no one would be willing to come to Pakistan,” he maintained.