Asalanka, Asitha Fernando Withdraw from Pakistan Tour; Security Concerns Force New Schedule
Two senior Sri Lankan cricketers, including captain Charith Asalanka, will return home from Pakistan because they have fallen ill. The team is currently in Pakistan for a T20 tri-series. Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) announced on Monday that Dasun Shanaka will take over as captain for the rest of the series, which also features Pakistan and Zimbabwe. Fast bowler Asitha Fernando has also been sent back home, and Pavan Rathnayake has been brought in as his replacement.
"Two Players Returning Home: Captain Charith Asalanka and fast bowler Asitha Fernando, both suffering from illness, will return home. The two players will not take part in the upcoming tri-series featuring Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and Zimbabwe," wrote SLC on 'X'.
Sri Lanka Players Return Home; Pakistan Tour Rescheduled Over Security Concerns
The board didn’t say what kind of illness it was. SLC only mentioned that the two players were sent home so they can get proper treatment before the busy season starts.
"This precautionary decision ensures they receive proper care and sufficient time to recover ahead of future assignments. Dasun Shanaka to Captain With Asalanka unavailable. Pavan Rathnayake has been added to the T20I squad as a replacement," it added.
Several Sri Lankan players wanted to fly back home because they were worried about safety after a recent suicide attack in Islamabad. But Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Mohsin Naqvi spoke to them and promised very strong security. After that assurance, the Sri Lankan team decided to continue the tour.
Pakistan and Sri Lanka were supposed to play the second ODI in Rawalpindi on November 13, but it has now been moved to November 14. The third ODI has also been pushed from November 15 to November 16 at the same ground. The PCB has also changed the schedule of the T20 tri-series. The opening match between Pakistan and Zimbabwe has been shifted from November 17 to 18, and now all the matches will be held only in Rawalpindi because of security worries.
Even the second match of the seven-game series has been delayed by a day, and will now be played on November 20. Before the rescheduling, Lahore was to host five games of the tri-series event, including the final on November 29 but the three boards agreed to hold the proceedings exclusively in Rawalpindi. The government also handed over the security of the Sri Lankan team to the Pakistan military forces after they agreed to continue the tour on the intervention of Army chief Asim Munir after a serial bomb blasts rocked Islamabad, killing 12 people and injuring dozens.
