Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Mohsin Naqvdi has thanked the Sri Lankan team for deciding to continue with their ongoing tour of Pakistan. This was after several Lankan players were concerned for their safety following Tuesday’s deadly suicide bombing in Islamabad.

Several Sri Lankan players had shown a desire to return home after the bombing killed 12 in Pakistan’s capital, which happened hours before the two teams played the first ODI in Rawalpindi.

SLC, reacting to the same, issued clear instructions telling the players, support staff, and team management to continue and complete the tour. The board cautioned that any member who quit against instructions would face a "formal review" of their actions, and that replacements would be sent promptly to ensure the series continued uninterrupted.

“Sri Lanka Cricket was informed by the team management that several members of the national team currently touring Pakistan have requested to return home, citing safety concerns. Following this development, SLC immediately engaged with the players and assured them that all such concerns are being duly addressed in close coordination with the PCB and the relevant authorities,” the SLC statement read.

After speaking with the players, team manager Mahinda Halangoda cleared this with the Sri Lankan Cricket Board (SLC), according to a PTI report.

"I can confirm that," he said.

Mohsin Naqvi took to social media to thank the Sri Lankan team for continuing with the tour and also announced the two ODIs will be played in Rawalpindi on November 14 and 16.

“Grateful to the Sri Lankan team for their decision to continue the Pakistan tour. The ODI matches between Pakistan and Sri Lanka will be played on 14th and 16th November in Rawalpindi. The spirit of sportsmanship and solidarity shines bright,” Naqvi posted on X. 

Sources within both boards confirmed that SLC’s decision followed a high-level security meeting in Islamabad attended by Naqvi, Pakistan’s Federal Interior Minister, and Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner, Admiral (retired) Fred Seneviratne.

Not only the ODI series, but the T20I series between Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Zimbabwe saw its schedule being changed and moved entirely to Rawalpindi.

The PCB stated that the amendments were made "in consultation with SLC and Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC), following mutual discussions to accommodate operational and match requirements."

The T20I Tri-Nation Tournament will take place exclusively in Rawalpindi from November 18 to 29. To ensure player safety and logistical consistency, it was decided that Rawalpindi would host the entire event.

All three nations saw the tri-series as a crucial stage of preparation for the 2026 T20 World Cup, which India and Sri Lanka will co-host. 

Revised Triseries schedule:

18 November – Pakistan v Zimbabwe

20 November – Sri Lanka v Zimbabwe

22 November – Pakistan v Sri Lanka

23 November – Pakistan v Zimbabwe

25 November – Sri Lanka v Zimbabwe

27 November – Pakistan v Sri Lanka

29 November –Final

(PTI inputs)