{"id":4210,"date":"2019-09-19T17:06:57","date_gmt":"2019-09-19T12:06:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/umang.pk\/2019\/09\/sri-lanka-cricket-team-gets-green-light-from-defence-ministry-for-pakistan-tour-sport\/"},"modified":"2019-09-19T17:06:57","modified_gmt":"2019-09-19T12:06:57","slug":"sri-lanka-cricket-team-gets-green-light-from-defence-ministry-for-pakistan-tour-sport","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/umang.pk\/en_us\/2019\/09\/19\/sri-lanka-cricket-team-gets-green-light-from-defence-ministry-for-pakistan-tour-sport\/","title":{"rendered":"Sri Lanka cricket team gets ‘green light’ from defence ministry for Pakistan tour – Sport"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/p>\n

\n

The Sri Lankan cricket board said Thursday that it will continue its tour of Pakistan despite fears that players may be targeted by terrorist attacks during the six-game visit.<\/p>\n

Sri Lankan Cricket Secretary Mohan de Silva said they received permission from the Ministry of Defense to leave for Pakistan on Tuesday.<\/p>\n

"We have the green light of the defense ministry," said de Silva AFP<\/em>. "The tour continues as planned. Myself and the bearers of our office will also accompany the team."<\/p>\n

Last week, reports of a possible terrorist attack were sent to the Ministry of Defense for investigation.<\/p>\n

The Sri Lankan team was the target of an attack during a test match in Lahore, Pakistan, in March 2009, with six players injured when gunmen attacked their bus.<\/p>\n

Six policemen from Pakistan and two civilians were killed.<\/p>\n

Since the attack, most international teams have refused to tour the country of South Asia.<\/p>\n

Sri Lanka's first game in Lahore after that was a T20 game against Pakistan in October 2017.<\/p>\n

De Silva visited Pakistan last month along with a security consultant to verify the arrangements made by the hosts.<\/p>\n

"They promised security reserved for a head of state," de Silva said.<\/p>\n

The six-game tour, which will begin on September 27, was suspended last week after the Sri Lankan prime minister's office warned the board that it had unspecified information about a possible attack against its players.<\/p>\n

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said it was not aware of any information related to the security of the Sri Lankan team, but reiterated its commitment to provide security.<\/p>\n

Ten high-ranking players chose to leave the tour for security reasons.<\/p>\n

Sri Lanka has already announced two squadrons for the three international one-day and the three T20 matches.<\/p>\n

Match calendar<\/strong>: <\/p>\n