A suicide bombing outside the Islamabad court complex yesterday has left 12 dead and 27 injured. The Sri Lanka cricket team, currently staying just 20 kilometres away in Rawalpindi, expressed concerns about their security following the attack. This comes after the tragic attack on the Sri Lanka team’s bus in Lahore in 2009, which led to a 6-year hiatus of international cricket in Pakistan. Since then, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has worked tirelessly to restore the confidence of international teams in hosting matches in Pakistan.
Despite the unsettling events, PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi reassured the Sri Lanka team members, who were understandably worried. According to ARY News, Naqvi met the team during their first ODI in Rawalpindi on Tuesday and promised them tight security, akin to the level provided to state guests.
A PCB source confirmed that Naqvi personally visited the stadium to assure the Sri Lankan players of their safety, and to guarantee them that they would be secure throughout their stay.
Pakistan has accused the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) of carrying out the attack, while reports suggest that the group had also planned an attack on Wana Cadet College in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. However, the Pakistani security forces foiled the plan, evacuating 300 students safely.
The Sri Lanka team is being provided with impeccable security by the Pakistan military and the Rangers to ensure their safety throughout their tour. The Pakistan-Sri Lanka ODI series in Rawalpindi will conclude on November 15, after which the Pakistan-Zimbabwe T20 Tri-Series will take place from November 17 to 29 in Rawalpindi and Lahore. Initially, Afghanistan was supposed to play in the T20 series, but following the death of three Afghan cricketers in a recent airstrike, Afghanistan pulled out.