Upul Tharanga pulls out of Lahore T20I against Pakistan

Sri Lanka's limited-overs captain Upul Tharanga has pulled out of the scheduled T20 International in Lahore later this month owing to security concerns. Tharanga's decision to skip the Lahore game makes him ineligible to lead the side in the first two games of the series as well. Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) had earlier announced that one squad would be picked to play all three T20Is versus Pakistan.

Cricbuzz has reliably learnt that from the current squad playing the ODI series in UAE, only all-rounder Thisara Perera and two other players have agreed to tour Pakistan.

In Tharanga's absence, wicketkeeper batsman Kusal Perera has emerged as the front runner to take up the captaincy for the three-match series. Perera is in the last stage of a recovery process having sustained a hamstring injury in June. According to Cricbuzz's sources, Perera is scheduled to go through an MRI scan and if cleared, will lead the side.

Dilshan Munaweera, Ashan Priyanjan, Isuru Udana, who feature in T20s regularly have agreed to tour as SLC continued negotiating with other players.

Earlier, 40 contracted players had given a letter to SLC President Thilanga Sumathipala indicating their unwillingness to travel to Lahore. Some players have since softened their stance, but most are still reluctant to tour, including premier fast bowler Lasith Malinga.

Malinga is not part of the ODI squad, but Chairman of Selectors Graeme Labrooy had earlier told Cricbuzz that he was looking to bring Malinga back for the T20 leg.

Malinga, on Sunday (October 15), had raised strong objections with authorities about their decision to discard the players unwilling to travel to Lahore from the entire series.

Fast bowler Suranga Lakmal and middle order batsman Chamara Kapugedera were inside the Sri Lankan bus when armed terrorists opened fire at the bus as they were travelling to third day's play of the second Test in March 2009. While Lakmal has refused to go to Pakistan, sources said that Kapugedera might join the team.

PCB is trying to revive the sport in the country after being forced to play their games in neutral venues of UAE for eight years. Last month a World XI team played three T20Is in Lahore. PCB is also trying to rope in either West Indies or South Africa for a short bilateral series in November.

The Pakistan government has promised security that is usually accorded to Heads of States to the Sri Lankan players.

Sri Lanka's Sports Minister Dayasiri Jayasekara told Cricbuzz, that a team of local police officials would travel to Lahore to carry out an intelligence report prior to the team's travel. Jayasekara backed the decision to travel as Pakistan have been one of Sri Lanka's strongest allies both in the cricket front and in political circles.

On Sunday night, Sri Lanka's support staff decided to tour Lahore after Pakistan coach Mickey Arthur gave them a detailed account of improved security in Pakistan. The support staff has four former international cricketers - Hashan Thilakaratne (Batting Coach), Rumesh Ratnayake (Fast Bowling Coach), Asanka Gurusinha (Manager) and Nic Pothas (Head Coach).

Sri Lanka Cricket's Executive Committee is scheduled to meet at 7:00 pm local time to discuss on the matter.