SLC tells players to continue Pakistan tour as PCB addresses safety concerns

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has directed the team management and players touring Pakistan to proceed with the series as scheduled.

According to the board, the team management informed officials that several members of the touring squad wanted to return home due to safety concerns following Tuesday's blast in Islamabad.

In response, SLC said it immediately discussed the issue with the players and reassured them that their safety was being prioritised through close coordination with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and security agencies.

The board said in a statement that it had “engaged with the players and assured them that all concerns are being addressed jointly with the PCB and relevant authorities to guarantee the safety and well-being of every member of the touring group.”

SLC has directed the team and support staff to proceed with the series as planned. The board emphasised that any player or official who opts to return to Sri Lanka despite this directive will be replaced so that the tour continues without disruption.

The statement added that anyone who leaves the tour contrary to SLC’s instructions will face a formal review once they return home.

Earlier reports from Colombo indicated that at least eight players were preparing to leave Pakistan. The development follows a suicide blast outside the district and sessions court in Islamabad’s G-11 sector, which killed 12 people and injured 36 others.