Mass protests in Pakistan puts Sri Lanka A tour in jeopardy

Mass protests, spearheaded by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), led by former skipper Imran Khan in Islamabad, have led to the Sri Lanka A tour being postponed indefinitely, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced on November 26 (Tuesday). 

The tour, which began on November 11 with a couple of unofficial Tests, has been called off at least for the time being, with just one of the three one-dayers reaching its climax. 

The second 50-over match, which was supposed to be held in Rawalpindi on November 27 (Wednesday), followed by another one on November 29 (Friday), will not take place as scheduled. 

"The Pakistan Cricket Board, in consultation with Sri Lanka Cricket, has postponed the last two 50-over matches of the Pakistan Shaheens-Sri Lanka A series due to a political activity in the federal capital," a PCB statement said. 

"The last two matches were scheduled for Wednesday and Friday at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. Both boards will collaborate to finalise new dates to complete the series."

Pakistan A won the two-match unofficial Tests 1-0 and also led in the white-ball series before unforeseen circumstances brought the series to a standstill.

The protests have seen a tense standoff between Imran Khan's party and the government. In fact, the current PCB chairman, Mohsin Naqvi, is part of the incumbent government as the country's interior minister.

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