Notably, a suicide bombing took place in Islamabad, about 17 km away from the stadium where Pakistan and Sri Lanka were scheduled to play the first ODI match on Monday. Despite the attack, the match continued and Pakistan won the opening match by 6 points.
Mohsin Naqvi personally went to console Sri Lanka
According to Pakistani media reports, PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi personally met the Lankan players and team management after the 1st ODI and assured full security for the entire traveling party.
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It is worth noting that cricket teams in Pakistan are getting presidential-level security after international cricket returned to the country after a 10-year hiatus. Incidentally, it was Sri Lanka in 2009 that was the last touring team to Pakistan before the international cricket lockdown took place in the country.
This happened when the Lankan team was hit by a terrorist attack, and cricket fans can never forget the images of Lankan players being flown out of the stadium itself. This led to a complete shutdown of international cricket in Pakistan.
Even the Pakistan Super League, Pakistan’s official T20 Franchise League tournament, had to be launched in the UAE in 2016 as the UAE had become the base for Pakistan’s international cricket business since the 2009 incident.
Suicide bombings rock Islamabad
A major suicide attack took place in Islamabad near the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium where the two teams were to play the first ODI of the three-match series. Despite the attack, the match continued and ended within regular time.
However, post-match panic gripped the Sri Lankan team as they might have had flashbacks of the 2009 tour. The training sessions of both the Pakistani and Lankan teams were canceled for the 2nd ODI on Thursday.
Also read: Naseem Shah’s house bombed with heavy fire, player sucked into playing for Pakistan
Then reports started emerging that the Lankan players were unwilling to continue the tour given the horrific conditions in Pakistan. As soon as this news came out, PCB officials and Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) officials started speaking and consoling the players.
Both boards have made every effort to ensure a smooth continuation of the tour. However, majority of the Lankan playing contingent could not be convinced and they decided to fly back to the country.
SLC will provide a replacement team
It has come to light that the Lankan Cricket Board will now arrange for a separate team to fly to Pakistan and complete the remainder of the tour. However, this will not be an easy task for the board as the returning players will definitely inform the other players about the deteriorating situation.
Breaking- Sixteen Sri Lankan players touring Pakistan have decided to return home following a suicide bombing in Islamabad.
As a result, the second ODI between Sri Lanka and Pakistan will not be played tomorrow.
Sri Lanka Cricket plans to send a replacement team to complete the…— Nibraz Ramzan (@nibraz88cricket) November 12, 2025
Pakistan had won the first ODI of the three-match series scheduled at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium by 6 runs. Salman Ali Agha was named Man of the Match for his all-round contribution to the game.
Apart from him, Haris Rauf was back to his best with 4 wickets to his name. For the visiting Sri Lankan team, Wanindu Hasaranga fought hard first with the ball and then with the bat.
However, his team could not cross the finish line and would have liked to win the remaining matches to take the series. Now, this cancellation once again casts a dark shadow over international cricket in Pakistan.
The future of international cricket lies in darkness in Pakistan
Earlier this year, both IPL and PSL had to be stopped midway after violent military clashes broke out between India and Pakistan after the Pahalgam terror attack in India. After that, Pakistan faced defeat through India in the 2025 Asia Cup, including the final.
PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi embarrassed the Indian team when they refused to receive the trophy from him after winning the Asia Cup 2025. This came from the team’s top management, with the full support of BCCI.
In anger, Mohsin Naqvi took away the trophy and the winning Indian team is yet to receive the trophy from the ACC president. During the recently concluded ICC meeting in Dubai, BCCI and PCB worked towards breaking the deadlock.
Now, the sudden cancellation of the tour by the Sri Lankan team is not only an egg in the face of PCB but also of its chairman, who holds a strong political position in his country.
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