Sixteen years after Lahore: Is Pakistan truly safe for cricket?

When the Sri Lankan national cricket team began their much-anticipated tour of Pakistan this November—scheduled for a three-match ODI series followed by a triangular T20 tournament with Zimbabwe—the return of cricket diplomacy quickly turned into a test of nerves. A deadly suicide bombing in Islamabad that killed 12 people, just hours before a scheduled match, sent shockwaves through the camp. Several Sri Lankan players reportedly wanted to abandon the tour and fly home, but the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) board instructed them to stay on, warning of a disciplinary review if they withdrew.

Such fears are deeply rooted in history. For Sri Lankans, Pakistan’s cricket fields evoke haunting memories of the 2009 Lahore attack—a day that changed international cricket forever. On March 3 that year, as the Sri Lankan team bus made its way to the Gaddafi Stadium for the third Test against Pakistan, it was ambushed by twelve armed militants wielding AK-47s, grenades, and rocket launchers. The horrifying assault left six Sri Lankan players injured, several Pakistani policemen and civilians dead, and the cricketing world stunned. The aftermath saw Pakistan shunned as a host for nearly a decade, with international teams refusing to tour due to persistent security fears.

A Grim Reminder, Sixteen Years On

Sixteen years later, the ghosts of Lahore seem to have resurfaced. Despite Pakistan’s efforts to rebuild its reputation and resume hosting global cricket events, the recent surge in violence has reignited doubts about safety. According to the Institute for Economics and Peace Global Terrorism Index, Pakistan rose to the position of the world’s second most terrorism-affected country in 2025. Terrorism-related deaths surged by 45% in 2024, with the number of attacks more than doubling from 517 in 2023 to 1,099 in 2024. The Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) was responsible for nearly half of these incidents, carrying out 482 attacks that claimed 558 lives—a staggering 91% increase over the previous year.

Meanwhile, conflict in the border regions of Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa continues to escalate, adding to Pakistan’s internal instability. Bombings, targeted killings, and sabotage operations have become disturbingly frequent. In this volatile environment, even the most stringent security protocols cannot completely insulate visiting athletes from potential threats. The Islamabad blast, occurring just kilometres from a match venue, underlines how fragile safety assurances remain.

Balancing Sport and Security

Cricket has long been a bridge between nations, but no sporting ambition should come at the cost of human life. Under such circumstances, Sri Lanka Cricket must act with prudence and responsibility. The board should prioritize player safety through independent, expert-led security assessments and maintain transparent communication with both players and their families. Every athlete should have the unpressured right to withdraw if they feel unsafe. In parallel, SLC must coordinate closely with the Pakistan Cricket Board and international security agencies to ensure tightly controlled logistics, secure transportation, and contingency plans for the immediate relocation of matches if threats escalate.

Sri Lanka’s tour of Pakistan is more than a sporting contest—it is a stark reminder of cricket’s vulnerability to terror and of how history, left unheeded, can repeat itself. The courage of players should be celebrated, but their safety must remain non-negotiable. The echoes of Lahore 2009 must not be allowed to become the sounds of tragedy once again.