New Delhi:
The first ODI between Pakistan and Sri Lanka at the National Stadium in Karachi was abandoned without a toss as heavy rain overnight and a persistent drizzle resulted in waterlogging near the boundary with the drainage system getting clogged. The pitch and the square were covered but the heavy, unseasonal September rain left the other parts of the outfield inundated in water. With the damage sustained to the outfield, the Pakistan Cricket Board and Sri Lanka Cricket Board agreed to reschedule the second ODI from Sunday to Monday to give the groundstaff more time to get the outfield back in shape.
"I am thankful to Sri Lanka Cricket as well as our host broadcasters for agreeing to amend the match schedule to ensure there are no further abandonments due to rain in what is an important bilateral FTP series for Pakistan. This week's unseasonal heavy rains have forced us to review the series schedule," Zakir Khan, PCB Director - International Cricket.
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There is no change to the third ODI and that will take place on October 2 at Karachi and the tour will end with three Twenty20 Internationals in Lahore starting on October 5.
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Karachi will host a one-day international for the first time in 10 years furthering the country's revival in international cricket. Teams have been reluctant to visit the cricket-mad country since a militant attack on the Sri Lankan team bus in Lahore in 2009. Although no players were killed in the attack, several were injured and eight people died. The attack forced Pakistan to play all their "home" Tests and most of their short-form games in the United Arab Emirates with Zimbabwe becoming the first team to return to Pakistan in 2015. That tour was followed by a Twenty20 series by a World XI in 2017, a one-off T20 match against Sri Lanka that same year, and the West Indies for a Twenty20 series in Karachi in 2018. The current tour -- comprising of three one-day internationals and as many Twenty20s -- was tainted by the withdrawal of 10 Sri Lankan players who cited security fears.
Pakistan have put in place stringent security measures normally reserved for heads of state. All the arrangements are being led by the country's military, with around 2,000 security personnel on alert at the team's hotel and at the ground.
