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Journalism of Courage
Sri Lankan Sports Minister Gamini Lokuge dismissed suggestions that the cricket team’s Test tour of Pakistan was reduced to only a couple of matches due to pressure from the powerful Indian Board.
“India never told us what to do. Sri Lanka is an independent country and our board is independent. India is our friend just like Pakistan is but we don’t take pressure from anyone,” Lokuge said at a press conference in Karachi.
The minister,who was here on the opening day of the first Test between Sri Lanka and Pakistan,said the decision to host India for the one-day series was undertaken to provide some financial boost to his country’s cricket.
Lokuge said he hoped the other three Test playing Asian nations would support his country in hosting the postponed Champions Trophy this year.
“The ICC has discussed Dubai as a possible venue for the tournament but the Asian countries feel the Champions Trophy should stay in Asia,” Lokuge told reporters today. India,Pakistan,Bangladesh and Sri Lanka feel that since the tournament was to be held in Pakistan,it should remain in Asia,” Lokuge said.
The ICC relocated the eight-nation tournament from Pakistan last month due to security fears expressed by Australia,England and New Zealand and Lokuge brushed aside suggestions that cricket’s governing body might also not give Sri Lanka the hosting rights on similar ground.
“The security situation all over the world is the same and there are bombings everywhere. But in Sri Lanka no sportsperson has been harmed by terrorists in the last 20 years,” Lokuge said.
“We have always supported each other and if international cricket can be played in Pakistan,India and Bangladesh it can be done in Sri Lanka as well,” he said.
