11 November 2024 last updated at 08:25 GMT
 
Sri Lanka turns down PCB invite
Monday 23 May 2011

Sri Lanka has turned down the invite of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) saying their national team will not tour Pakistan until the security issues there are sorted out.

The Pakistan Cricket Board had announced at the weekend that they had invited Sri Lanka to play three Tests, five one-day internationals and one Twenty20 game in a series proposed for October.

Sri Lanka officials said they would need security clearance before accepting the invitation, as well as discussions with the government and the International Cricket Council (ICC).

It’s been just two years since terrorists attacked the Sri Lankan team bus in Lahore, killing six policemen and a van driver and wounding several players. Pakistan has not hosted any international cricket since the attack in March 2009.

Sri Lanka Cricket Secretary Nishantha Ranatunga said, "Until everybody agrees (to tour Pakistan) it is very difficult to send our team. Everybody should understand the worst affected will be the players and their families."

He said that Sri Lanka has offered to provide its venues to Pakistan to host its home matches until security improves.

The ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat earlier this month said no team was willing to tour Pakistan at the moment because of its security situation.

Pakistan have been forced to play their "home" series in the United Arab Emirates, England and New Zealand.

ICC lacks strong leadership in current times: ex-CEO Lorgat
The former ICC boss said barring Khawaja's peace slogans on shoes showed ICC lacked consistency in applying its rules
Waugh warns cricket boards for ignoring Test cricket
Australia Great Warns ICC, BCCI Over 'Irrelevant Legacy'