The attack on their cricketers still fresh on their minds, the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has decided to review the security situation in India before sending players to the second edition of the IPL.
Besides, the SLC would also talk with the cricketers preparing to take part in the IPL before they are allowed to leave for India. The Lankan cricketers signed up by different IPL franchises include Mahela Jayawardene, left-arm pacer Chaminda Vass, spinners Ajantha Mendis, Muttiah Muralitharan and Kumar Sangakkara.
It may be recalled that, on March 3, Lankan cricketers were injured when some gunmen fired and lobbed grenades at their bus in Lahore.
At least one of the players continues to be in hospital in Colombo, and the team is being counselled psychologically to get over the trauma.
“We have to talk to the players (who are playing in the IPL) and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on security related issues before sending our players to the tournament,” said D.S. de Silva, SLC's newly appointed chairman of the interim administration, here on Wednesday.
De Silva's remarks would cause further concern to the BCCI and the IPL who are currently going through protracted discussions with the Home Ministry to finalise dates and venues for the tournament.
{{/usCountry}}De Silva's remarks would cause further concern to the BCCI and the IPL who are currently going through protracted discussions with the Home Ministry to finalise dates and venues for the tournament.
{{/usCountry}}“Let us erase the negatives from the past and concentrate on the development of the game. Our immediate attention will be to focus on the next two years," De Silva said.
In June, Sri Lanka will be travelling to England for the T20 World Cup and will host New Zealand and Pakistan in July before leaving for South Africa for the Champions Trophy. Later this year, they will again host India.