By Asif Naveed
ISLAMABAD (MNN); Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Thursday said Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Asim Munir played a key role in persuading Sri Lanka to continue their cricket tour of Pakistan, following concerns raised after Tuesday’s deadly suicide bombing in Islamabad.
The Sri Lanka Cricket Board confirmed late Wednesday that its team would remain in Pakistan for the ongoing matches, averting a potential crisis after initial reports suggested some players intended to return home.
Speaking in the Senate, Naqvi, who is also the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman, said Field Marshal Munir personally spoke with Sri Lanka’s defence minister and secretary, assuring them of full security.
He recalled that the Sri Lankan team had initially decided to leave immediately after the blast, but through coordinated discussions, including with their board and players, the team ultimately chose to stay.
Naqvi added that Sri Lanka’s President Anura Kumara Dissanayake also intervened to convince the players. He said Pakistan Army, Rangers, and Islamabad police are jointly managing security for the team, providing them with the same protocol and protection as state guests.
The PCB chairman further noted that the Zimbabwe cricket team has arrived in Pakistan, and the remaining matches will be played in Rawalpindi. The suicide blast on Tuesday killed 12 people and injured 36, occurring just hours before the first ODI between Pakistan and Sri Lanka in Rawalpindi.
After the incident, some Sri Lankan players initially requested to return home due to safety concerns. The SLC later assured the players that all security measures were in place in coordination with the PCB and relevant authorities.
They also confirmed that replacements would be sent immediately if any player decided to leave, ensuring uninterrupted matches.
As a result, the PCB rescheduled the two remaining ODIs to November 14 and 16, and moved the T20 tri-nation tournament, which includes Zimbabwe, from Lahore to Rawalpindi, scheduled from November 18 to 29.
A day after the blast, Naqvi, Islamabad’s chief commissioner, and the police chief met with Sri Lankan envoy retired Rear Admiral Fred Seneviratne to assure him that comprehensive security arrangements were in place. The envoy expressed satisfaction with the measures provided for his national team.
