Pakistan Deploys Army to Protect Sri Lankan Cricket Team After Islamabad Blasts
Military takes over after blasts, tour saved by Munir.
Pakistan has placed the visiting Sri Lankan cricket team under the direct protection of the Pakistan Army following a series of deadly bomb blasts in Islamabad that sent shockwaves through the cricketing world and threatened to abruptly end the ongoing bilateral tour. Interior Minister and PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi confirmed on Thursday that elite military units, working in coordination with Rangers and local police, have assumed complete responsibility for the squad’s security, ensuring round-the-clock surveillance and armored transport at every venue.
The unprecedented step was triggered by Army Chief General Asim Munir’s personal intervention, during which he held direct talks with Sri Lankan Defence Minister Pramitha Bandara Tennakoon to provide ironclad assurances of the players’ safety. Naqvi lauded the Sri Lankan government and cricket board for their “immense support and trust” in continuing the series despite the heightened terror alert, emphasizing that such solidarity strengthens bilateral ties beyond the boundary.
Several Sri Lankan players had voiced serious safety concerns and initially contemplated immediate evacuation after the blasts. Naqvi disclosed that he conducted prolonged, one-on-one discussions with the team in Rawalpindi, systematically addressing each fear, while Sri Lanka’s President Anura Kumara Dissanayake personally called the squad to encourage them to remain. “Their decision to stay reflects great bravery and faith in our security apparatus,” Naqvi stated.
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A dramatic video capturing heavily armed commandos in full tactical gear escorting the Sri Lankan team bus from the airport to the stadium has exploded across social media platforms, garnering millions of views within hours. The footage features convoys of armored vehicles, rooftop snipers, and drone surveillance—visual proof of military-grade protection that fans have described as both reassuring and a powerful symbol of Pakistan’s determination to host international cricket.
This tour now stands as a rare example of international cricket proceeding uninterrupted in Pakistan under high-security conditions, starkly contrasting New Zealand’s abrupt abandonment of their 2021 white-ball series over similar intelligence warnings. With the army fully in command, officials assert the remaining matches will go ahead as scheduled, sending a clear message that Pakistan is aggressively reclaiming its position on the global cricket stage.
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