Head of State level security cover for SL team

By Abdul Mohi Shah
September 19, 2019

ISLAMABAD: Government of Pakistan has assured head of state level security cover to visiting Sri Lanka team in a letter written to Sri Lanka government the other day.

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Sri Lanka team is due to arrive in Pakistan on September 25 to play three one-dayers and as many T20 matches against Pakistan.“Sri Lanka government has been assured through a letter written by the Pakistan government that their cricket team would be extended head of state security cover during their stay in Pakistan,” The News has learnt reliably.

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ehsan Mani who was here Tuesday in Islamabad met Ministry of Interior officials along with visiting Cricket Australia Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Kevin Roberts. On the same day, the government has assured foolproof security to the Sri Lanka team through a letter.

Letter to Sri Lanka government added that all arrangements have been made to extend top notched security cover to the visiting team that is only extended to head of state. According to PCB sources, Sri Lanka Board has never raised any security fears after confirming their tour to Pakistan.

“The letter from the government of Pakistan shows the support and backing for the tour. Indeed with the help of security agencies we have already planned head of state level security cover to the visiting team,” a PCB official confirmed.

Sri Lanka optimistic about saving Pak tour: Sri Lanka’s cricket board remains hopeful of going ahead with its tour of Pakistan but will await the final all-clear from the defence ministry, an official said Wednesday. Sri Lanka Cricket Secretary Mohan de Silva said he was satisfied with the security arrangements of their hosts, but reports last week of a possible terror attack had been referred to the defence ministry for investigation.

The Sri Lanka team was the target of an attack during a Test match in Pakistan’s Lahore in March 2009. Six Sri Lankan players were injured when gunmen attacked their bus. Six Pakistan policemen and two civilians were killed. Since the attack, a majority of international teams have refused to tour the South Asian country.

Sri Lanka played one T20 match against Pakistan at Lahore in October 2017.De Silva told AFP: “Earlier last month I visited Pakistan along with our security consultant and we were satisfied with the arrangements. “They have promised security reserved for a head of state.” The six-match tour, due to start on September 27, was put on hold last week after Sri Lanka’s prime minister’s office warned the board that it had unspecified information about a possible attack against its players.

Sri Lanka Cricket did not call off the tour, but instead asked the government to reassess the security situation and make a final determination about the fate of the tournament. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has said it was not aware of any information relating to the safety of the Sri Lankan team, but has reiterated its commitment to provide security. Ten senior players have opted out of the tour citing security concerns. Sri Lanka has already announced two squads for the three One-Day Internationals and the three T20 matches starting September 27.

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