Pakistan Cricket Board Revises Sri Lanka ODI Schedule After Security Scare in Islamabad

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has affirmed that the ongoing three-match ODI series between Pakistan and Sri Lanka will proceed despite heightened security concerns among the visiting players following a deadly suicide bombing in nearby Islamabad. On November 11, 2025, a suicide bomber detonated explosives outside a district court in the capital, killing at least 12 people and injuring 27 others, mostly passersby and court visitors. The attack, described by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi as potentially linked to Indian-backed elements and Afghan proxies, has escalated tensions in the region and prompted fears among the Sri Lankan contingent, who are based in Islamabad during the tour. Pakistan won the series opener on the same day in Rawalpindi by a narrow six-run margin, but the incident has cast a shadow over the remaining fixtures.

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) acknowledged that at least eight members of its 16-player squad, along with some support staff, requested to return home immediately after the blast, citing the proximity of Rawalpindi to the volatile capital. In a firm statement, SLC directed the team to continue the tour, emphasising that safety measures were being coordinated closely with the PCB and Pakistani authorities to protect all touring personnel. The board pledged to dispatch replacements should any players opt to leave against instructions while warning of a formal review and potential disciplinary actions for non-compliance. This stance underscores SLC's commitment to fulfilling the bilateral engagement, even as players expressed unease over the security environment in a city that borders the blast site.

To accommodate the situation and provide additional reassurance, the PCB announced a revised schedule for the final two ODIs, both at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. The second match, originally set for November 13, has been postponed to November 14, while the third, planned for November 15, shifts to November 16; tickets for the original dates remain valid. PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi hailed the decision on social media, stating, "Grateful to the Sri Lankan team for their decision to continue the Pakistan tour. The ODI matches between Pakistan and Sri Lanka will be played on 14th and 16th November in Rawalpindi." Security has been significantly bolstered, with Pakistan Army personnel and paramilitary rangers now overseeing the visiting team's movements, treating them as state guests following briefings with the Sri Lankan High Commissioner.

Also Read: PCB Confirms Tri-Series Will Go on After Afghanistan Withdraws Following Players’ Deaths

The episode evokes painful historical parallels for Sri Lankan cricket, notably the 2009 Lahore bus attack during a Test series, where gunmen wounded several players—including Ajantha Mendis, Chaminda Vaas, and captain Mahela Jayawardene—and killed Pakistani escorts, leading to a decade-long international boycott of Pakistan as a host venue. That incident forced the nation to stage home games in the UAE until Sri Lanka's 2019 tour marked a cautious return. Following the current ODIs, Sri Lanka is slated to join Pakistan and Zimbabwe in a triangular T20I series, a format that could further test the resilience of cricket diplomacy amid Pakistan's ongoing insurgency challenges, including over 600 militant attacks this year alone.

Also Read: South Africa Warned About Jasprit Bumrah Threat Ahead Of 1st Test Against India