'No truth to reports that India influenced Sri Lankan players not to play in Pakistan': Minister 

Sri Lankan on Tuesday pooh-poohed Pakistan's assertion that some of its players dropped out of the tour to Pakistan under pressure from India.

Sri Lanka sports minister Harin Fernando in a tweet said, "No truth to reports that India influenced Sri Lankan players not to play in Pakistan."

"Some decided not to play purely based on 2009 incident. Respecting their decision we picked players who were willing to travel," he added.

Sri Lanka's response comes after Pakistan's Federal Minister for Science Fawad Chaudhry earlier said Lankan players dropped out of the tour due to pressure from Indian Premier League. 

Chaudhry said "Informed sports commentators told me that India threatened SL players that they 'll be ousted from IPL if they don’t refuse Pak visit" calling it a "really cheap tactic" on the part of Indian sports authorities.

10 Sri Lankan cricketers -- Niroshan Dickwella, Kusal Janith Perera, Dhananjaya De Silva, Thisara Perera, Akila Dhananjaya, Lasith Malinga, Angelo Mathews, Suranga Lakmal, Dinesh Chandimal, Dimuth Karunaratne -- opted out of the upcoming Pakistan tour over security concerns.

Former Sri Lanka Air Force Commander, Marshal Air Roshan Goonetileke had briefed the players about the security situation in Pakistan and the security arrangements PCB plans undertake during Sri Lanka team’s tour.

Marshal Air Roshan is the Chief Security Advisor of the Sri Lanka national cricket team.

Sri Lanka Cricket will be touring Pakistan to play 3 ODIs and 3 T20 internationals from September 27 to October 9.

In 2009 the Sri Lankan cricket team came under attack during their Lahore visit in which six players suffered injuries.