ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s upcoming tour of Sri Lanka will go on as per schedule despite island-country’s political turmoil, a Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) official said on Thursday.
The Pakistan cricket team is scheduled to play a two-Test match series in Sri Lanka from July 16 to 28. The visitors, who are already in Sri Lanka, are playing a warm-up fixture to prepare for the first Test match at Galle which kicks off on Saturday.
Cricket will serve as a welcome distraction for Sri Lanka, which is mired in political turmoil and reeling from an economic crisis that has resulted in severe fuel shortage and spiralling inflation.
On Wednesday, Sri Lanka declared a state of emergency after President Rajapaksa and his wife fled to the Maldives. A Pakistani daily, ‘The Nation’, had reported that the tour had been clouded by uncertainty.
Speaking to Arab News, PCB Media Manager Ahsan Iftikhar Nagi rejected the and said that the tour will go ahead according to the schedule.
“Everything is fine here and as per schedule,” Nagi told Arab News.
Sri Lanka will head into the first Test against Pakistan with their heads held high after trouncing the mighty Australians by an innings and 39 runs in Galle.
