PAK v SL | Our successful tour of Pakistan will encourage other teams to visit, says Rumesh Ratnayake

09/30/2019

Sri Lanka’s interim head coach Rumesh Ratnayake feels that his side’s limited-overs tour of Pakistan will encourage other nations to follow suit. 10 of Sri Lanka’s main players cited security concerns and refused to travel with the Lankan team for the Pak tour which began on Friday.

Although the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had initially invited Cricket Sri Lanka to play two Tests — which would be part of the ICC Test Championship — in Karachi and Lahore, it was later renegotiated to a one-day series of three ODIs and as many T20 matches. If this tour passes by hassle-free, the PCB will look to have the Tests in December in Pakistan.

“This will be a precursor for that (Test) tour (in December). I’m sure this will certainly encourage the others (SL players, who refused to travel) to take decisions, we can’t enforce it on them,” Ratnayake told PTI.

“They have taken a decision and we have to respect that, but certainly, if things go well, this series will be a huge thing for the future, not only for them but for all other countries to be here,” Ratnayake said.

However, the rain gods had other plans as the first ODI was washed out, much to the disappointment of the players and fans. Ratnayake has revealed that the downpour has affected the team’s training as well.

“It has been raining and it has been humid today. Even before we came here the preparations were hampered by rain. We have had only a day’s training outside and today is another. The preparation hasn’t been all that good but that’s not going to be an excuse which I will give because they are all professional players,” Ratnayake added.

The second ODI is scheduled to be held at the same venue - the National Stadium in Karachi - from 3:30 PM today.