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 Dasun Shanaka will captain the team in Asalanka’s absence, while Fernando has been replaced by Pawan Ratnayake in the T20 squad.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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