Sri Lanka Test team raise safety concerns over anti-immigrant riots in UK

Some Sri Lanka players currently in England for a three-Test series have raised concerns over security following widespread anti-immigrant riots in the country.

Sri Lanka are scheduled to play a three-Test series in England starting on August 21 in Manchester. While the entire contingent has not made its way over to the UK, a few players and support staff have.

According to an ESPNCricinfo report, those that have reached the UK have expressed concerns over their security amid nationwide anti-immigrant protests and riots.

The report states that nine people - seven players and two support staff are currently in the UK, and have requested for tighter security measures from the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) board as they travel to and from a ground close to London for training.

"Most of the issues seem not to be close to where we are but everyone is still a little concerned," one of the players told ESPNcricinfo. "We can't really go out to dinner or do anything like that. Mostly we stay in the hotel. No one wants to run into trouble and get beaten up."

The rest of the Sri Lanka squad is supposed to arrive in the UK on August 11, which is when the ECB's security plans for the series will be put into effect. They have, however, responded to the tourists' concerns by reassuring them about the security arrangements.

The tour consists of three Test matches, starting with the first game in Manchester from August 21, the second at Lord's from August 29, and the third at The Oval from September 6.

The UK has seen a week of far-right riots up and down the country after a mass stabbing incident in Southport in which three children were killed. The riots have been linked to disinformation spread on social media about the identity of the attacker.