The remainder of Sri Lanka A’s tour of Pakistan has been indefinitely postponed due to ongoing mass protests in Islamabad, led by supporters of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), the political party headed by former Pakistan cricket captain and Prime Minister Imran Khan. The protests, which have paralyzed the capital, have led to security concerns in Rawalpindi, prompting the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to suspend the last two one-day internationals of the series.
The two remaining matches, scheduled for November 27 and 29 at the Rawalpindi Cricket Ground, will not take place as planned. The PCB, in consultation with Sri Lanka Cricket, confirmed that the postponement was a direct result of the political unrest in Islamabad, Rawalpindi’s twin city and the capital of Pakistan. A PCB statement mentioned that both boards would work together to finalize new dates for the matches to complete the series.
This postponement follows the PCB’s decision to relocate the first one-dayer, originally set for November 25 at the Rawalpindi Cricket Ground, to Islamabad Club. The move came after Imran Khan called for a mass march to the capital, further escalating tensions in the region.
The protests, demanding Khan’s release from prison, have created a tense standoff between his supporters and the federal government. The unrest has also attracted the attention of PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who is also Pakistan’s Interior Minister.
Pakistan had taken a 1-0 lead in the one-day series, having won the opening match by 108 runs. They had also triumphed in the preceding two-match first-class series, winning 1-0.
