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The Sri Lanka men’s cricket team’s tour of Pakistan is now at risk after eight players from the 16-member squad chose to return home following a suicide bombing in Islamabad on Tuesday raising serious safety concerns according to a news report on Wednesday. When are players leaving? The players plan to leave on Thursday just a few hours before the second ODI Telecom Asia Sport reported. Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) sources told Telecomasia that the players had threatened to skip the remainder of the ODI series in Rawalpindi which is expected to be postponed. Although the SLC has not issued an official statement sources close to the team said the players initially wanted to stay and play all matches after Pakistani authorities assured them of full security. The SLC reportedly warned the players of a possible two-year ban if they abandoned the tour but this did not stop the eight from deciding to return home. Some board members believe that players should be penalised if they break ranks and decide to return without playing said sources.. PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi met the Sri Lankan team at their Islamabad hotel and promised full security measures. After the bilateral ODI series Sri Lanka is scheduled to take part in a Tri-series with Pakistan and Zimbabwe starting November 19. PCB officials said the tri-series could be postponed if needed. Earlier there were rumors that the team led by Charith Asalanka was already returning home after Tuesday’s suicide blast in Islamabad killed 12 people and injured several others. A separate terrorist attack at a Cadet Academy in Wana Khyber Pakhtunkhwa also heightened safety concerns. The second and third ODIs were scheduled for Thursday and Saturday in Rawalpindi. What did PCB chairman and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi do? PCB chairman and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi also met Sri Lankas High Commissioner to Pakistan Rear Admiral (R) Fred Siriweera on Wednesday to assure him of the security arrangements. Sources said the High Commissioner appreciated the efforts. Initially the players were willing to continue but after a team meeting at the hotel eight decided to return home. Sri Lanka has a tragic history of attacks in Pakistan. On March 3 2009 their team bus was attacked near Gaddafi Stadium. Seven players were injured and eight policemen were killed. The tour was canceled and international cricket was suspended in Pakistan until 2015. Since then Pakistan has successfully hosted England South Africa and New Zealand multiple times with Australia touring in 2022 for the first time in 24 years.