Sri Lanka are not likely to tour Pakistan for a scheduled series later this year as concerns still linger about the volatile security situation in that country and the news reports that suddenly originated from Pakistan yesterday about an invitation by Pakistan Cricket Board to Sri Lanka for the tour, actually contain nothing new.
“There has not been any official invitation from PCB recently as these media reports indicate. About three or four months ago, PCB told us that they would like to host our team as scheduled in the FTP (Future Tours Programme). We told them our stance that we need security clearance first before sending a team there again. Our stance has not changed, and there has been no new invitation though their media have suddenly got excited about it” said Sri Lanka Cricket Interim Committee Secretary Nishantha Ranatunga.
“The PCB invitation and our response was widely publicized in both local and international media at that time. There’s nothing new in these reports” he added.
Meanwhile, SLC Interim Committee Chairman Somachandra de Silva had said yesterday that Sri Lanka responded to the Pakistani invitation saying that they are not going to play the series in Pakistan.
"We have replied back 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. If they agree to play in Sri Lanka they will have to bear the entire hosting costs" de Silva told our Mumbai based correspondent Bipin Dani yesterday.
"We have also expressed our willingness to play either at the neutral venue in Dubai or in Abu Dhabi" de Silva had added.
De Silva had earlier told news agency AFP that security and clearance from a Pakistan Task Team (PTT), formed by the International Cricket Council (ICC) in 2009 is essential before considering any tour of Pakistan.
“Pakistan cricket is going through a difficult period, and we are keen to help them out as they are one of our best friends. But we have to consider the safety of our players” said Ranatunga adding that they have not discussed the matter with Sri Lankan cricketers yet. “First we have to get the security clearance. Then only we need to discuss it with cricketers. You have to remember that most of them were victims of the previous attack” Ranatunga added.
"We have sent them a fresh invite to play the series of three Tests, five one-day internationals and one T20 match in Pakistan in October-November" Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) spokesman Nadeem Sarwar was quoted as saying by several international news agencies yesterday.
"We are waiting for their response but we have given them full security assurances." he has said.
Gunmen, identified as terrorists from Taliban attacked the Sri Lankan team bus as they were on their way to the Gaddafi stadium on March 3, 2009 in Lahore during a Test tour.
Sri Lanka team's British assistant coach Paul Farbrace, Sri Lanka cricket team captain Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardena, Thilan Samaraweera, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Ajantha Mendis, Dilhara Fernando, Chamara Kapugedera and Muttiah Muralitharan suffered injuries in the attack.
Six security personnel and two civilians including the driver of a convoy vehicle transporting umpires were also killed in the attack which also wounded Pakistani umpire Ahsan Raza seriously.
Foreign teams did not tour Pakistan since then.
News agency AFP said that PCB chairman Ijaz Butt last week met interior minister Rehman Malik who assured him of security for the touring teams and instructed Butt to convince Sri Lanka to play in Pakistan.
The ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat earlier this month said no team was willing to tour Pakistan soon because of its security situation.
Pakistan have been forced to play its home series in the United Arab Emirates, England and New Zealand. They also played a home series against Australia in Sri Lanka when Australia refused to visit Pakistan.
The Afghanistan team has agreed to travel and play against Pakistan ‘A’ team later this month, but the third match, which was to be played at Abottabad, where Osama bin Laden was killed earlier this month, has been shifted to Islamabad.
In March this year PCB Chairman, Muhammad Ijaz Butt said "We are grateful to Sri Lanka Cricket that despite the events of that day they have once again expressed a willingness to tour Pakistan" after SLC Interim Committee Chairman de Silva had told media that they were discussing with ICC about the possibility of touring Pakistan.
When the issue initially broke in the media few months ago, it was clear that Sri Lanka government was unwilling to send the players to Pakistan. “We want the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) home series be played in our country” Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage was quoted as saying by media in March.
