Proposed Sri Lanka tour to Pakistan Called off
BCCSL - 7 October 2001
It is with regret that the Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka
informs the cricket loving public that the proposed tour to Pakistan will
not be going ahead due to concerns over the safety of our players.
The Pakistan Cricket Board extended an invitation to the BCCSL for the Sri
Lankan team to play three One Day Internationals, following the cancellation
of the New Zealand tour of Pakistan.
Despite the uncertain global security situation which could especially
effect conditions in Pakistan, the Interim Committee of the BCCSL agreed to
tour in principle, keeping in mind the long history of friendship between
Sri Lanka and Pakistan, both in the game of Cricket and between the two
Nations. This was provided that adequate measures would be available for the
security of players, as well as the Pakistani players, officials and
spectators.
"Our first concern was the safety of our players. We requested the Pakistan
Cricket Board to make arrangements to evacuate our players by air, should
the need have arisen. However, despite the efforts of the PCB, it was not
possible to arrange the logistics for this and after a series of discussions
between the PCB and BCCSL, it was desided that the tour be called off," said
Vijaya Malalasekera, Chairman of the Interim Committee of the BCCSL.
Both Sri Lanka and Pakistan, together with Zimbabwe, will next be
participating in the Sharjah Champions' Trophy in the UAE, which begins on
the 26th of October.
© BCCSL