Sri Lankan players seek clarification for Pak tour

Despite the clearance by the foreign ministry, the Sri Lanka players, now playing a Test series in Bangaldesh, are still not mentally ready for the forthcoming Pakistan tour, it is learnt.

“The players have sought certain clarifications regarding the security arrangements to be placed in Pakistan”, Greame Labrooy, the president of the Sri Lanka Cricketers’ Assocation said from Colombo. The former fast bowler is also the committee member of the FICA (Federation of International Cricketers’ Association).

“The players have been assured top class security in Pakistan but still they want the term “top class” to be defined properly.

 Labrooy refused to identify the names of the players raising question. “It is not a question of senior or junior players writing letters. The security issue has to be discussed for the entire team”, he added.

Apparently, the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) board has no specific security consultants like Andrew Cooks or Reg Dickason (for Cricket Australia, England and New Zealand).They mainly rely on ICC’s security reports.

“Besides security aspects, the players have also expressed their desire to know the number of games to be played in Pakistan and dates of the tour matches”, Labrooy concluded.

Mahela Jayawardene’s family though won’t mind him traveling to Pakistan. “Obviously we are concerned about the tour but since the government has given a go ahead for the tour, we would not object to it. After all it is going to be Mahela’s decision”, Sanarth Jaywardene, Mahela’s father, said from Colombo.