Malinga, Mathews, Chandimal opt out of Pakistan tour

Lasith Malinga was among the ten star players to withdraw from the tour to Pakistan citing security issues © Getty

Sri Lanka will be missing considerable firepower on their upcoming limited-overs tour of Pakistan, starting September 27, after as many as ten star players opted out following a security briefing with the Sri Lanka Cricket board.

T20I skipper Lasith Malinga, along with former captains Angelo Mathews and Dinesh Chandimal, Suranga Lakmal, Dimuth Karunaratne, Thisara Perera, Akila Dhananjaya, Dhananjaya de Silva, Kusal Perera and Niroshan Dickwella were the ten who opted to stay away from the upcoming assignment after a meeting with the board aimed at bringing the players up to date about the security measures being put in place for them during their stay in Pakistan.

Sri Lanka are scheduled to play three ODIs in Karachi on September 27, 29 and October 3, followed by as many T20Is in Lahore on October 5, 7 and 9 during the tour, before returning in December for the Test series that will be a part of the World Test Championship.

"Former Sri Lanka Air Force Commander Marshal Air Roshan Goonetileke, who is the Chief Security Advisor of the SLC, briefed the players about the security situation in Pakistan and the security arrangements PCB plans on implementing during Sri Lanka team's tour of that country, whilst Chairman of the National Selection Panel Mr. Asantha De Mel explained about the selection policy for future tours," SLC said in their statement.

The players were reportedly given a free hand in deciding whether they wanted to travel with the side or not, following which the squads for both the limited-overs series would be picked.

Meanwhile, Kusal Mendis remains unavailable for selection due to the leg injury he sustained during the recently concluded T20I series against New Zealand at home.

SLC are yet to announce the two squads.