The Sri Lankan team received massive support from the crowd in the second One-day International at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Friday as fans termed their decision of continuing with the Pakistan tour a victory for the game.
A significant number of fans holding Sri Lankan flags supported the tourists throughout the game. The PCB also affixed Sri Lankan and Pakistan flags in all the stands.
According to media reports that emerged on Wednesday, eight members of the touring Sri Lankan cricket squad wanted to return home citing security concerns in the aftermath of the bomb blast that killed 12 in Islamabad last week.
However, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) managed to convinced the said players to continue with the tour, while assuring that the tourists will be given foolproof security.
Mohammad Talha, a fan from Murree, said that he was upset when he heard that some Sri Lankan cricketers wanted to return home.
“Literally, I was shocked as I thought this act by the Srl Lankan [players] will leave very negative impact on future international [cricket] events in Pakistan. However, I became super happy when I came to know that no Sri Lankan player is going back,” he said while talking to Dawn.com and added that he along with his friends decided to watch the second ODI at the stadium.
He continued, “Let me pay special thanks to Sri Lanka Cricket [board], their government and above all, all the team members.”
Arshad Hussain, a fan from Rawalpindi, also appreciated the Islanders, stating that they had won the hearts of sports lovers.
“Pakistan always provides appropriate security to touring [sports] squads. [For the ongoing series] foolproof arrangements are already in place. Therefore, touring teams shouldn’t be worried about security,” he said and added that last week’s bomb blast in Islamabad took place miles away from the team hotel and the match venue.
Meanwhile, fans were also seen cooperating with security officials at the stadium happily, knowing some elements were trying to defame Pakistan.
