'No truth to reports that India influenced Sri Lankan players not to play in Pakistan': Harin Fernando

Sri Lanka have rejected Pakistan's assertion that some of their players dropped out of the tour to Pakistan under pressure from India.

Sri Lanka sports minister Harin Fernando in a tweet said, "No truth to reports that India influenced Sri Lankan players not to play in Pakistan."

Explaining, "Some decided not to play purely based on 2009 incident. Respecting their decision, we picked players who were willing to travel."

Pakistan's federal minister for science Fawad Chaudhry had said,"Informed sports commentators told me that India threatened SL players that they 'll be ousted from IPL if they don't refuse Pak visit" calling it a "really cheap tactic" on the part of Indian sports authorities.

Meanwhile, SLC sought the assistance of Sri Lankan government to conduct a 'Reassessment' of the security situation in Pakistan ahead of the national team's planned tour to Pakistan. The decision was taken following a warning the SLC received from the Prime Minister's Office sent via the Ministry of Telecommunication, Foreign Employment and Sports.

The Prime Minister's Office has received reliable information of a possible terrorist threat on the Sri Lankan team while touring Pakistan.

Hence, SLC has been advised to take extreme care, and 'reassess' the situation, before embarking on the said tour.'No truth to reports that India influenced SL players not to play in Pakistan'

Ten Sri Lankan cricketers opt out of the upcoming Pakistan tour over security fears. These players were Niroshan Dickwella, Kusal Perera, Dhananjaya De Silva, Thisara Perera, Akila Dhananjaya, Lasith Malinga, Angelo Mathews, Suranga Lakmal, Dinesh Chandimal and Dimuth Karunaratne.

Former Sri Lanka Air Force Commander, Marshal Air Roshan Goonetileke had briefed the players about the security situation in Pakistan and the security arrangements PCB plans on implementing during Sri Lanka team's tour of that country. Marshal Air Roshan is the Chief Security Advisor of the Sri Lanka national cricket team.

Sri Lanka Cricket will be touring Pakistan to play three ODIs and as many T20Is from September 27 to October 9 but will only include players who opted to go.

In 2009, the Sri Lankan cricket team came under terror attack during there Lahore visit in which six members of the national team were wounded.

—Zee Media Newsroom

SLC names squad for Pakistan tour

Sri Lanka Cricket, on Wednesday, named the squads for the tour of Pakistan to play three ODIs and as many T20Is starting this month end. While the ODI squad will be led by Lahiru Thirimanne, the T20I squad will be led by Dasun Shanaka.

While the ODIs is a 15-member squad, the only addition to the squad is Lahiru Madushanka to make it a 15-man T20I side.

ODI squad: Lahiru Thirimanne (C), Danushka Gunathilaka, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Avishka Fernando, Oshada Fernando, Shehan Jayasuriya, Dasun Shanaka, Minod Bhanuka, Angelo Perera, Wanindu Hasaranga, Lakshan Sandakan, Nuwan Pradeep, Isuru Udana, Kasun Rajitha, Lahiru Kumara

T20I squad: D Shanaka (C), D Gunathilaka, S Samarawickrama, A Fernando, O Fernando, S Jayasuriya, A Perera, Bhanuka Rajapaksha, M Bhanuka, Lahiru Madushanka, W Hasaranga, L Sandakan, I Udana, N Pradeep, K Rajitha, L Kumara