Tillakaratne Dilshan, who leads Sri Lanka for the first time against England in Cardif on Thursdayf, has followed up Sri Lanka Cricket's refusal to tour Pakistan in October by vowing that he will never play cricket again in the country.
Dilshan's quick-thinking did much to help guide the Sri Lanka team coach to safety after it came under terrorist attack en route to a Test in Lahore more than two years ago, a gun battle that left six policemen and two civilians dead.
Pakistan have not played a home Test since and even Sri Lanka, which until recently was blighted by civil war and so sets its risk assessment less fiercely than most, will not contemplate a return because of security concerns.
Dilshan, asked if he would ever tour Pakistan again, said: "It was a bad experience for me as a cricketer in Pakistan. As a player I don't want to go through the same experience again. I don't know the view of my team-mates but my personal view is that I don't want the same scenario again."
Pakistan now have issues over where to stage two planned "home" series before the new year, with a further series against England expected to take place either in the Middle East or Sri Lanka.
Dilshan could hardly face a tougher baptism in Sri Lanka's three-Test series. Sri Lanka have not played a Test outside the subcontinent since a six-wicket defeat against the West Indies in Port of Spain more than three years ago.
Appointed after Kumar Sangakkara's resignation from the captaincy after defeat against India in the World Cup final, he must also lead an inexperienced bowling attack that can no longer lean on Muttiah Muralitharan, now retired, whenever the going gets tough.
"I was a little surprised by Kumar Sangakkara's decision to resign," Dilshan said. "I thought that he should have captained for another one or two years, but we all respect his decision. It's not easy playing here early summer, but the captaincy is not going to change the way I play. I am an aggressive batsman. I will just continue the same way."
Mahela Jayawardene, one of two former captains in the side, offered some encouraging words. "He's a street-smart guy, he's a fighter, and he has shown that all throughout his career," he said. "I know that the young guys will look up to him, while the core of the team – guys like myself and Kumar – will be there to give him advice in different situations.
"But the key thing is to enjoy your cricket as a captain. Dilshan will keep it simple, and play the way he plays. He's easygoing, he loves a challenge, he's free-flowing, and all of this will reflect on the way he runs the side."
Sri Lanka's team selection is certainly enterprising, arguably foolhardy. Dilshan suggested that Prasanna Jayawardene, a wicketkeeper with a Test batting average of 30, no Test half-century outside the subcontinent and 10 runs in three innings on tour, will bat at No6, enabling Sri Lanka to play four seamers and the left-arm spinner, Rangana Herath.
"The six batsmen need to take the challenge," Dilshan said. "Normally Murali bowled 30 to 40 overs every day. We don't have that now. We need five bowlers to bowl out the other team."
The loss of Nuwan Pradeep with knee-ligament damage is a blow – he will return to Colombo at the weekend and is expected to be absent for eight weeks, but needs no operation – and Sri Lanka are also fretting over a sore knee for Dilhara Fernando.
Fernando is the only fast bowler with experience of English conditions, having toured in 2002 as well as playing for Worcestershire in 2008. He has never achieved the consistency anticipated when he first burst on to the scene with only 90 wickets in 35 Tests. It was his burst of three wickets in six balls against England Lions at Derby that set up Sri Lanka's unexpected victory, but talk of a sore knee will cause old doubts to resurface.
