Sri Lanka Cricket’s decision to stay in Pakistan despite recent events came as a huge relief to millions of fans in the country, but it would not have been possible without the personal intervention of Field Marshal Asim Munir.
In a major revelation, PCB Chairman and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi shared how the Sri Lankan cricket team was convinced to continue their ongoing tour of Pakistan through Asim Munir’s involvement.
According to Naqvi, senior Pakistani authorities — including the country’s top security official — personally reached out to Sri Lanka’s Defence Minister and Defence Secretary, assuring them of foolproof security arrangements and the highest level of state protocol for the visiting players.
“Our field marshal himself spoke directly with Sri Lanka’s defence leadership and convinced them. We assured them that the Pakistan Army, Rangers, and police are all actively handling security. The Sri Lankan team are our state guests, and we are providing them the same level of protection as any high-profile delegation,” Naqvi said.
He added that dialogue with the Sri Lankan team management also played a crucial role. “They had genuine concerns, and we addressed every single one of them. The players were understandably anxious, but we made sure they felt completely secure,” he said.
Naqvi further revealed that the Sri Lankan President personally intervened, speaking to his players and encouraging them to go ahead with the matches. “Their decision to stay and play was an act of courage. I’m grateful to the Sri Lankan President, their government, the cricket board, and especially the players who chose to continue,” he stated.
Expressing his gratitude, the PCB Chairman said the Sri Lankan cricket board had left the final call to the players, who showed remarkable bravery and professionalism by choosing to stay in Pakistan and complete the tour.
The ongoing series will now have even stronger security oversight, but with Sri Lanka fully committed to the tour thanks to Field Marshal Asim Munir, cricket fans in Pakistan can breathe easy — and focus once again on the action on the field.