Sri Lanka’s 2009 attack memories return as security tightened in Pakistan after Islamabad Blast; Mohsin Naqvi holds urgent meeting

Security measures for the Sri Lankan cricket team have been increased following the terrorist attack in Pakistan a day earlier. In a show of support, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who also serves as the Home Minister, met the team officials and assured them of their safety.

Currently, the Sri Lankan team is touring Pakistan, where the host country is leading 1-0 in the three-match series and narrowly won by just 6 points in the first match. The second match will be held on November 13.

A suicide bomb occurred outside a court in Islamabad on Tuesday, November 11, killing 12 people and injuring many others.

Looking at past events, it appears that New Zealand suddenly canceled the limited-overs series against Pakistan three years ago on September 21, 2021. After receiving intelligence about a possible terrorist threat, the team returned home without playing a single match.

Mohsin Naqvi took the initiative to personally visit the stadium and meet the visiting team members and give them security assurance, PTI reported citing sources. Sources stated that Pakistani army and paramilitary Rangers have been deployed to ensure the safety of visiting players and officials, with special focus on monitoring their safety.

It is worth mentioning that the Sri Lankan cricket team faced a harrowing experience 16 years ago when their bus was attacked. In March 2009, TTP terrorists opened fire on the team bus near Gaddafi Stadium. Fortunately, there was no death, but many players were injured.

As a result of such incidents, international cricket matches were largely absent from Pakistan for nearly a decade, with numerous foreign teams refusing to tour the country due to ongoing security concerns.

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