Even after most of his teammates backed off from the Pakistan tour due to security issue, Lahiru Thirimanne is determined to go to Pakistan. Sri Lanka will be playing three ODIs and as many T20Is in Pakistan with the series starting on September 27.
The background
Sri Lanka tour of Pakistan already attracted the attention of world cricket for the venue itself. Although Sri Lanka board assured of security arrangement in Pakistan, ten senior players decided to opt-out from the same. The players who pulled out are T20 skipper Lasith Malinga, former captains Angelo Mathews and Dinesh Chandimal, Suranga Lakmal, Dimuth Karunaratne, Thisara Perera, Niroshan Dickwella, Kusal Perera, Dhananjaya de Silva, and Akila Dananjaya
There is still no clarity over the tour as Sri Lanka recently received a threat letter a week back. The letter was about an attack planned on the visiting team in Pakistan. Sri Lankan board eventually has decided to reassess the security while ICC is also keeping an eye overall. But amidst all these, Lahiru Thirimanne sounded satisfied with the security in Pakistan.
What Lahiru thinks
In a talk with Gulf News, Lahiru Thirimanne, who will lead the ODI side in the absence of regular captain Dimuth Karunaratne said, “SLC (Sri Lanka Cricket) has presented us the security plan which we are getting in Pakistan so I’m pretty happy with that and I explained to my family as well, so they don’t have a concern since we represent our country.” He further added that his team have the potential to do well.
Dasun Shanaka will captain Sri Lanka in the T20I series in the absence of Lasith Malinga. The tour will kick off on September 27, with the first ODI staged in Karachi followed by next two games at the same venue on September 29 and October 3. Lahore will host three T20Is on October 5, 7 and 9.
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