ICC to scrutinise Pakistan security ahead of SL series

• PCB says will not shift the series to a neutral venue

The International Cricket Council (ICC) will review the security arrangements put in place in Pakistan before appointing match officials for the upcoming home series against Sri  Lanka commencing on September 27.   

According to a Pakistani Urdu daily ‘Daily Jang,’ the ICC will analyse the security plans to be put in place by its government before appointing neutral umpires and match referees. The last time an international series was played in Pakistan against Zimbabwe in 2015, the council did not appoint any neutral match official and it had tasked both countries to oversee cricketing matters. 

Against this backdrop, it would be interesting to see whether the cricket’s governing body follows the same example and asks the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) to pick officials from within their own setups or indirectly endorse security arrangements in Pakistan by appointing neutral officials. 

The upcoming series have been under uncertainty ever since Sri Lankan Prime Minister’s Office received reliable information of a possible terrorist threat to its team while touring Pakistan. Following this, SLC said it needed to “reassess” the plan for the Pakistan tour. 

The PCB, though, has made it clear that it would not be shifting the series to a neutral venue. 

Both teams are scheduled to play three ODIs and as many T20s in Karachi and Lahore between September 27 and October 9.