Two senior players of Sri Lankan cricket team have returned to their country. Recently, after the blast in Islamabad, many Sri Lankan players had talked about returning back to Sri Lanka due to security reasons. However, after meeting PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi and on the request of the Sri Lanka Cricket Board, the Sri Lankan team continued playing the ODI series. Now captain Charith Asalanka and fast bowler Asita Fernando have returned to their country, but the reason for their return is something else.

The Sri Lanka Cricket Board issued a statement through a post on

The board has not shared much information on Asalanka and Fernando falling ill. Dasun Shanaka will captain the team in Asalanka’s absence, while Fernando has been replaced by Pawan Ratnayake in the T20 squad.

Sri Lanka Tour of Pakistan 2025 #PAKvSL
Two Players Returning Home
Captain Charith Asalanka and fast bowler Asitha Fernando, both suffering from illness, will return home.
The two players will not take part in the upcoming tri-series featuring Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and… pic.twitter.com/71Z3RVQPQW

— Sri Lanka Cricket (@OfficialSLC) November 17, 2025

The Sri Lankan team had to face 3-0 defeat in the ODI series played in Pakistan. Now the tri-series between Zimbabwe, Pakistan and Sri Lanka is going to start from November 18, all the matches of which will be played in Rawalpindi. This tri-series was initially scheduled to start on 17th November, but in view of security, the schedule was postponed and the first match was shifted to 18th November.

Earlier, Lahore was to host 5 matches of the tri-series, but after the suicide blast in Islamabad, due to security reasons, it was agreed to host all the matches in Rawalpindi.

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The suicide bomb blast in Islamabad affected the Pakistan vs Sri Lanka ODI series. Some players of the Sri Lankan team had refused to continue playing in the ODI series due to security reasons. Due to this, there was a change in the schedule, as a result now the second ODI match will be played on Friday instead of Thursday. But amidst all this the Pakistan team has been punished. Why has the Pakistan team been punished 2 days after the Islamabad blast? Here you will get the answer to this question.

Pakistan team got punishment

The International Cricket Council (ICC) said that a fine of 20 percent of the match fee has been imposed on the players of Pakistan team. The reason for this penalty is slow over rate. It was told that in the first ODI match played in Rawalpindi, Pakistan team was 4 overs behind the set target. Although Pakistan won the first ODI match by 6 runs.

ICC match referee Ali Naqvi gave this punishment. Captain Shaheen Afridi accepted his punishment, due to which ICC did not need any hearing. Let us tell you that 12 people lost their lives in the blast in Islamabad, while 27 people were seriously injured.

Changed schedule of ODI series

Pakistan vs Sri Lanka 1st ODI was played on 11 November in Rawalpindi. Despite a fighting inning of 59 runs by Wanindu Hasaranga, Sri Lanka lost that match by 6 runs. The second ODI match was to be played on Thursday, 13 November, but now it will be played on 14 November. The last match is to be played on 16th November in Rawalpindi itself.

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There is an atmosphere of fear in the Sri Lankan cricket team after the blast in Islamabad. There is news of 12 people killed and more than 20 people injured in the Islamabad blast. For this reason many Sri Lankan cricketers had refused to play in the remaining matches of the ODI series. Although the Sri Lankan Cricket Board gave full assurance of safety to its players, it also warned of sanctions for leaving the series midway. Actually, this is not the first time that an atmosphere of fear has been created among Sri Lankan cricketers by going to Pakistan. About 16 years ago a terrorist attack shook the cricket world.

Attack on Sri Lankan team

This incident happened in the year 2009, when the Sri Lankan team went on Pakistan tour for 3 ODI and 2 Test matches. Sri Lanka vs Pakistan second test was being played in Lahore, which was to run from 1-5 March. Meanwhile, on the morning of March 3, the Sri Lankan cricket team left for Gaddafi Stadium in a bus. But near Liberty Square, 12 terrorists armed with guns were waiting for the team bus.

7 Sri Lankan players injured

In this attack, 7 players including the then captain of the Sri Lankan team Mahela Jayawardene and vice-captain Kumar Sangakkara were injured. The names of these 7 players were Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara, Ajantha Mendis, Thilan Samaraweera, Tharanga Paranavitana, Chaminda Vaas and Suranga Lakmal. Of these, Samaraweera and Paranavitana were seriously injured and were hospitalized for some time. Other cricketers suffered minor injuries.

6 policemen martyred

The terrorists started firing indiscriminately at the Sri Lankan cricket team bus. The police somehow ensured the safety of the team by retaliating, but in this action, 6 police personnel and 2 civilians lost their lives. After a struggle that lasted for 20 minutes, the terrorists fled from there, but left the rocket launcher and ammunition behind.

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Cricketers Tribute to Malini Fonseka: Last Saturday, Sri Lankan veteran Malini Snehlata Phonseka died at the age of 78. He was declared dead during treatment at a private hospital in Colombo. Now some new pictures have come out, in which the entire Sri Lankan cricket team reached Malini Phonseka to give a final farewell. Please tell that Malini was addressed as ‘Queen of Singhala Cinema Queen’.

Malini Phonseka ventured into cinema in 1968. She acted in more than 100 films in her film career, some of which were also international films. Sri Lankan cricket team captain Dhananjay D. Silva, coach Sanath Jayasuriya and other players of the team also folded their hands and remained silent to Malini Phonseka.

A spokesperson of the Sri Lanka Cricket Board said on the death of Malini Phonseka, “He was a symbol of power, decency and talent. His legacy will continue to inspire many generations to come.” Malini Phonseka was also active in politics, she came in the 2010 elections by choosing a member of Parliament. In his film career, he also set a record as he won the Slim Nielson Peoples Award for 12 consecutive times. A global media institution ranked Malini Phoenka in the top-25 actresses of Asia History in 2010.

Next challenge of Sri Lanka cricket team

The next challenge before the Sri Lanka cricket team is Bangladesh tour. The 2-Test series between Sri Lanka-Bangladesh is going to start from June 17. At the same time, three ODI and 3 T20 matches are also to be played between the two teams. Sanath Jayasuriya is currently the head coach of the Sri Lankan cricket team. Meanwhile, it is being told that Lanka Premier League will be played in Sri Lanka in the month of July-August.

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