In the absence of Tharanga, the Sri Lankan team is expected to be lead by wicketkeeper batsman Kusal Perera.

Pakistan’s efforts to conduct international cricket matches at home received a major setback on Monday as Sri Lanka’s limited-overs captain Upul Tharanga pulled out of the scheduled T20 International in Lahore Citing Security Reasons.

According to a Cricbuzz report, Tharanga’s withdrawal also makes him ineligible to play in the first two T20 International matches of the series in the UAE as selectors had earlier announced that they would pick one squad for all the T20 International matches versus Pakistan.

The report also added that from the current squad playing the ODI series in UAE, only four Sri Lankan players – Thisara Perera, Dishad Munaweera, Ashan Priyanjan, Isuru Udana – have agreed to tour Pakistan, as of now. Thisara Perera was part of the ICC World XI side that played three T20Is in Pakistan.

In the absence of Tharanga, the Sri Lankan team is expected to be lead by Kusal Perera. The wicketkeeper batsman, who had sustained a hamstring injury in June, is expected to fully recover before the scheduled match.

Earlier, 40 players, including most in the current squad, had given a letter to Sri Lanka Cricket board (SLC) President Thilanga Sumathipala expressing their unwillingness to travel to Lahore.

The SLC has, however, confirmed that the Sri-Lankan team will be touring Pakistan and the squad will be announced on October 20.

The Sri Lankan cricket team had come under attack from terrorists in March 2009 in Lahore. Since then, barring Zimbabwe, no international cricket team has toured Pakistan.

However, Pakistan has seen international cricket return to the country in the last couple of years. Pakistan, this year, has hosted many International players in the Pakistan Super League Final and the three T20 Internationals between Pakistan and World XI.