SL Players Panic After BOMB Blast in Pakistan, SA Stay Silent in India: Know Why

A suicide bombing outside the district court in Islamabad on 11 November 2025, which killed 12 people, raised serious safety concerns for the touring Sri Lankan cricket team. Following the attack, several Sri Lankan players reportedly expressed fear and requested to return home amid the ongoing PAK vs SL ODI 2025 series.

Despite the concerns, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) instructed players and staff to continue with the tour, assuring them that all necessary safety measures were being taken. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) responded by tightening security and rescheduling the remaining matches, ensuring the series could proceed in Rawalpindi. The Sri Lankan team was staying in Islamabad, which has led to more chaos.

Pakistan Bomb Blast Creates Chaos While SA Stays Quiet in India

On November 11, 2025, a suicide attack near Islamabad’s district court in Pakistan claimed 12 lives and left dozens injured. The incident resulted in several members of the Sri Lanka cricket team, who were staying nearby, raising safety concerns and requesting an early return home.

That same day, an explosion in Delhi tragically killed eight people and injured more than twenty. Despite the incident, the South Africa cricket team, touring India and staying in Kolkata, continued with their planned activities, without creating any public panic.

Several factors might have contributed to this difference. Firstly, the blast in Pakistan occurred in the same city and near the venues where the Sri Lankan team was based, triggering personal safety concerns. It also brought back memories of the 2009 terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan team in Lahore.
In contrast, the Delhi explosion was distant from the South African team’s base in Kolkata, allowing local authorities to enhance security measures and reassure the visiting squad.

Additionally, the strong organizational infrastructure and influence of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has likely played a role in ensuring that the players felt protected and could maintain focus on their tour without public panic. It is to be noted that the BCCI is the richest cricket board in the world. At the same time, Cricket South Africa will be hosting a SA20 event in Mumbai soon, to celebrate Indian fans. So, the CSA Board will not like to hamper its relations with the Indian fans and the BCCI.

Will IND vs SA Series 2025 Continue As Per Schedule?

The India vs South Africa 2025 series is set to proceed as scheduled, despite the recent explosion in Delhi. The opening Test will take place at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, the oldest cricket stadium in India, on November 14, while the second Test is slated for Barsapara Stadium in Guwahati from November 22 to 26.

Following the blast near Delhi’s Red Fort, which resulted in several casualties, authorities and cricket officials have tightened security for the series. The Kolkata Police, working closely with the BCCI and the Cricket Association of Bengal, have ensured a three-layered security perimeter around Eden Gardens with drone surveillance, dedicated checkpoints, and are closely monitoring team hotels and travel routes.

The decision to continue the tour shows BCCI's confidence in the security arrangements. Relocating the first Test to Kolkata, far from the blast-affected area in Delhi, further reassures the South African team and officials.