Pakistan Deploys Army to Protect Sri Lankan Cricket Team

Pakistan has sent its army and paramilitary forces to protect the visiting Sri Lankan cricket team. This strong security step was taken after a deadly suicide bombing happened in Islamabad earlier this week. The attack created fear and concern for the safety of the team, which is currently touring the country for an international cricket series.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi told the parliament that the government is taking the situation very seriously. He announced that the army and paramilitary forces were already deployed specifically for the protection of the Sri Lankan team. He explained that the government wants to make sure the team feels safe and can continue playing without fear. He also said that all security arrangements are being followed strictly and nothing is being taken lightly.

The decision to deploy the army came after a suicide bombing took place outside an Islamabad court on Tuesday. The blast killed 12 people and injured 27 others. The location of the bombing was also very close to the places where the Sri Lankan team stays and plays. Their hotel and stadium are less than 10 kilometres from the attack site. Because of this, the incident increased the concern for their safety, and many people began questioning whether the tour should continue.

After the blast, the Sri Lanka Cricket Board said that many players were worried and wanted to return home immediately. They were scared because they remembered the tragic 2009 Lahore attack, where the Sri Lankan cricket team was targeted. That older attack changed cricket in Pakistan for many years and made visiting teams fearful. However, the board told the players to stay in Pakistan and continue the series. The board was satisfied with Pakistan’s promise of providing what it called “foolproof security.”

Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif spoke about the attack and the security situation. He said that the recent attacks had put Pakistan in a “state of war.” He blamed militants based in Afghanistan for the bombing and also accused India of supporting them. Both Afghanistan and India strongly denied these claims. Despite political tensions, the focus remains on making sure the Sri Lankan players are safe.

The recent bombing reminded many cricket fans and officials of the 2009 Lahore attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team. After that attack, international cricket stopped in Pakistan for almost ten years. Only in recent years have major teams started returning. Pakistan worked hard to rebuild trust by improving stadium security, escort teams, and police response systems. However, this new attack has once again raised questions about whether Pakistan can host international cricket safely.

England visited Pakistan twice for Test series in 2022 and 2024. They also played a seven-match T20 series in Pakistan before winning the T20 World Cup in 2022. Earlier this year, Pakistan also hosted most matches of the Champions Trophy. But India did not play any match inside Pakistan. Instead, India played their tournament matches in the UAE due to political tensions. India went on to win the tournament after beating New Zealand in the final, while Pakistan was knocked out in the group stage.

The Sri Lankan cricket team is currently playing a three-match one-day series in Rawalpindi, near Islamabad. After this series, they will also play in a T20 tri-series with Zimbabwe. Pakistan narrowly won the first one-day match against Sri Lanka by six runs on Tuesday. Despite the win, security concerns continue to overshadow the cricket series.

Pakistan has taken serious steps to assure safety by deploying its army. The government wants the tour to continue smoothly and hopes that strong security will help rebuild international confidence. For now, the Sri Lankan team remains in Pakistan, and the matches are going ahead with very high security all around them.