Sri Lanka cricket officials announced on Tuesday that the first one-day international of the triangular series with South Africa and India has been postponed.
Sri Lanka were scheduled to play the South Africans on Monday but the game was first rescheduled for Tuesday due to wet weather and then abandoned because of uncertainty over whether the tournament would be called off over security fears.
”The match has been postponed and will be replayed later in the tournament,” a Sri Lanka Cricket official said.
South Africa are on the verge of pulling out of the series over heightened security fears following a bomb blast in the capital on Monday that killed seven people and injured 17.
A meeting scheduled for 10am local time between all three teams was also postponed to give time for a private security company to complete an independent assessment of the situation for Cricket South Africa.
”Sri Lanka Cricket are now waiting for this report and the decision of the South Africans,” the official added. ”We anticipate being able to make a formal release during the afternoon.”
A security-forces convoy escorting a Pakistan embassy vehicle was hit by a Claymore fragmentation mine, hours after a suspected rebel front threatened to bomb civilian targets.
The blast was within the town centre, about 1,6km from the team hotels.
Sri Lanka Cricket officials held emergency discussions with the South Africa and India team managers, coaches and security advisers, trying to reassure them that player safety was not threatened.
But South Africa’s players asked to go home on Monday night after a team meeting.
Cricket South Africa must clear the decision to return home with the International Cricket Council to ensure they will not face financial penalties.
A bilateral series with India could be arranged if South Africa do opt-out of the planned tri-series. — Reuters