Pakistan has increased security measures for the visiting Sri Lankan cricket team following a suicide blast outside a judicial complex in Islamabad that killed 12 people and injured several others. The decision comes amid renewed concerns over militant activities in the country, particularly those linked to the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
The recent attack has triggered fears of terrorism ahead of Sri Lanka’s limited-overs series in Pakistan. Given the worried memory of the 2009 assault on the Sri Lankan
team bus in Lahore, which stopped international cricket in Pakistan for almost a decade, authorities have taken no chances this time. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the federal government have ensured the safety of the visiting players and officials.
Mohsin Naqvi personally meets the Sri Lankan
PCB Chairman and Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi personally met the Sri Lankan squad to reassure them of foolproof security arrangements. Naqvi, who also held meetings with the Sri Lankan High Commissioner, Admiral (Retd) Fred Seneviratne, emphasized that the team was being treated as state guests and that every possible precaution was in place.
Following the Islamabad blast and a foiled terrorist attack at the Wana Cadet College, where security forces safely evacuated over 300 students, the Pakistani government blamed the TTP and pointed fingers at Afghanistan’s Taliban regime for allowing militants to use its territory for cross-border operations. Tensions between Islamabad and Kabul have been high since peace talks in Doha collapsed earlier this year.
Federal Information Minister Ata Tarar confirmed that quick action by the security forces prevented another large-scale tragedy reminiscent of the 2018 Peshawar school attack. The latest developments have led to the deployment of Pakistan Army personnel and paramilitary Rangers to oversee the Sri Lankan team’s security.
Multiple security activities, including escorts, surveillance teams, and restricted movement zones, have been introduced around the team’s hotel, training grounds, and match venues. Pakistan’s history with international cricket security remains sensitive. Three years ago, New Zealand abruptly cancelled a white-ball series in Rawalpindi minutes before the first match, citing credible threats.
