Sri Lanka intent on Pakistan tour

Sri Lanka are scheduled to play three Tests and five ODIs on their recently arranged tour Pakistan

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The Sri Lanka players are happy to tour Pakistan early next year despite the International Cricket Council’s planned review of security arrangements.

Sri Lanka are set to play three Tests and five one-day internationals in Pakistan to fill the void created by India’s withdrawal due to security concerns.

The ICC announced yesterday that it would conduct an independent secutrity assessment before allowing umpires and referees to travel to Pakistan, but Sri Lanka’s players have no such concerns, according to Sri Lanka Cricket interim committee chairman Arjuna Ranatunga.

"They are more than happy to tour Pakistan and play the series there," said former captain Ranatunga. "I have talked with all the leading players and they expressed their willingness to play in Pakistan.

"The Sri Lanka board is happy with the security arrangements being made for the players during their stay and we are ready to play as many matches in Pakistan as you want."

Sri Lanka Cricketers' Association secretary Graeme Labrooy said: "The players absolutely have no concerns about the security situation in Pakistan and have no problem about touring there.”

Sri Lanka's only request to the Pakistan Cricket Board has been for a change in the itinerary.

The PCB's initial plan had been for Sri Lanka to play three Tests, three one-day matches and a Twenty20 game.

But Sri Lanka requested two more one-dayers in place of the twenty20 international, which the PCB granted.