Sri Lanka raise security concerns ahead of UK travel over riots

Anti-immigrant riots have stunned several places in the United Kingdom and the same have cast a shadow on the Sri Lanka team’s prospects of traveling to the country. They will challenge England in the three-match Test series scheduled to commence on August 21. The Sri Lanka team has shown concerns over security before travelling to the country and the players who are already there, as a part of pre-series training, have also expressed anxiety.

According to reports, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has assured Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) of proper security arrangements. The team, which is about to travel to London comprising nine players and two support staff, has demanded better security cover as they land in the country.

“Most of the issues seem not to be close to where we are but everyone is still a little concerned. We can’t really go out to dinner or do anything like that. Mostly we stay in the hotel. No one wants to run into trouble and get beaten up. We’ve asked the board to try and ask for some security for us until the main team arrives, but we haven’t heard anything back yet,” said a Sri Lanka player in England as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.

We’ll be having a security liaison on the tour: Halangoda

Sri Lanka will take on England in the first Test on August 21 in Manchester. Among the chunk of players and staff who are about to travel to the UK, Sri Lanka’s team manager, Mahinda Halangoda, has shown remorse after watching reports of riots from Manchester. Both teams will tussle at Lord’s for the second Test from August 29 before ending the tour at The Oval on or before September 10.

“I raised the issue with them, but the ECB responded very quickly and sent us their comprehensive security arrangements. We’ll be having a security liaison on the tour from them as well,” said Halangoda.