Islamabad, 13 November (Udaipur Kiran). The second ODI of the three-match series between Pakistan and Sri Lanka has been cancelled following a deadly blast in Islamabad that killed 12 people and left several injured. The Sri Lankan team was left shaken by the incident, prompting eight players to return home on Thursday due to security concerns. The second match, scheduled to be played in Rawalpindi, was cancelled.
According to sources in the Sri Lanka Cricket Board, the players expressed concern over the proximity between Rawalpindi and Islamabad and requested to return home. Replacement players will be sent to Pakistan to ensure the remaining matches of the series can be completed.
The blast in Islamabad has revived memories of the 2009 terror attack in Lahore, where the Sri Lankan team bus was targeted near Gaddafi Stadium. Several players, including captain Mahela Jayawardene, Ajantha Mendis and Chaminda Vaas, were injured, while multiple Pakistani security personnel were killed. The incident halted international cricket in Pakistan for a decade, pushing the team to play its home fixtures in the UAE. It was Sri Lanka who first toured Pakistan again in 2019, reopening the doors for international cricket.
Following the Islamabad attack, concerns have resurfaced over the safety of hosting international matches in Pakistan. After the ODI series, Pakistan is scheduled to play a triangular T20 series involving Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe. The blast has now put the future of the T20 series in doubt.
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.