Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) proposal of staging the final of their three-match T20I series with Sri Lanka at the Gaddafi stadium in Lahore is facing a bleak outcome.
Forty of Sri Lanka’s contracted players have handed a letter to the board indicating that they do not wish to Lahore for the match scheduled for October 29.
According to a report published in Cricbuzz, Sri Lanka players have not ruled out the tour to Pakistan, but has asked the board to consider a venue change.
“SLC will have a quick chat to the players very soon. We don’t intend to disturb them in middle of a series, but we are left with no option but to address the issue. The ICC also will meet the players on Saturday to brief them about the situation in Lahore,” the source told Cricbuzz.
Sri Lanka had faced the brunt of terrorism during their tour of the country in 2009 when their team bus was attacked by armed gunmen in Lahore.
Since then, Pakistan has been forced to play its home matches in the UAE.
Pakistan and Sri Lanka are currently battling out in the UAE in the five-match ODI series which will be followed by a three-match T20I series.
All-rounder Thisara Perera who was part of the ICC World XI which recently participated in the historic Independence Cup in Lahore, is believed to be the only member of the current squad who has not signed the letter addressed to the SLC.
There is still the possibility of the match at Lahore going ahead with a second string Sri Lanka side.
“We are looking at all possibilities. Pakistan has been one our closest allies and we don’t want to let them down,” the SLC source had said.