Sri Lanka players still undecided on T20 in Lahore

Abu Dhabi: Sri Lanka Cricket may have reminded their players of the ‘contractual obligation’ they have to play where the board requires them to, but the cricketers are still undecided on the proposed T20 in Lahore.

Sri Lanka will be starting the three-match Test series against Pakistan in the UAE today followed by five ODIs and three T20s. Though all the matches will be played in Pakistan’s adopted country — the Emirates, in a bid to bring back international cricket to their shores, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) have tried to keep the last match of the T20 series in their own backyards.

PCB gave enough evidence of their organisational capabilities with the successful hosting of the World XI series in Lahore earlier this month but it seems that the Lankan players are still apprehensive of the move.

Skipper Dinesh Chandimal, ahead of the first Test, when probed about players’ intentions on the scheduled T20 minced no words in saying that they are yet to take a final decision as they are still not convinced about the security aspect.

“At the moment the board wants to go there but we want to see the security. We haven’t discussed anything as a team, so we need to discuss as a team and come up with a decision in the near future,” said Chandimal, whose two current teammates Chamara Kapugedera and Suranga Lakmal were a part of the team in 2009 when their bus was attacked in Lahore.

Lakmal even sustained minor injuries and though the T20 team is not finalised there is a possibility of the duo being selected for the series.

To calm the apprehensions of the opponent, Pakistan skipper Sarfraz Ahmed in his media briefing said, “My message to Sri Lanka team is to come and play in Pakistan, Pakistan is a safe country. We recently hosted three matches with the World Twenty20 and they were safe, so they should come and play in Pakistan.”

CEO of Sri Lankan Cricket Ashley de Silva had earlier said that the board was committed to addressing all the player concerns. It will be interesting to see how things unfold as the date approaches. For now, PCB and all the Pakistan fans back home will be keeping their fingers crossed.