Pakistan's decade-long isolation from hosting Test cricket ends tomorrow (Dec 11) when Sri Lanka will play at Pindi Cricket Stadium.

The second Test will be in Karachi from December 19-23. The series is part of the world test championship.

Sri Lanka's cricket team arrived in Pakistan on Monday to play the two-Test series.

Sri Lanka were the last team to play a Test match in Pakistan in 2009 before the team came under terrorist attack at Lahore and the doors to international cricket were closed on Pakistan.

The Test series in Pakistan was made possible after Sri Lanka toured three months ago and played a ODI and a Twenty20 series at Karachi and Lahore without any security trouble

Pakistan's government has promised top-level security, normally reserved for heads of state. The two Test matches will be played at Rawalpindi and Karachi.

A security force of over 4,000 security, including policemen from Punjab province and the Pakistan Army, will be deployed around the Pindi Cricket Stadium where first Test starts on Wednesday. Karachi will host the second Test from Dec. 19-23.

Pakistan Cricket Board's director cricket operations Zakir Khan welcomed the Sri Lanka team members at Islamabad International Airport before the team drove to the hotel amid tight security on Monday.

Sri Lanka suffered a setback just before the departure from home when fast bowler Suranga Lakmal was ruled out due to dengue fever. He was replaced by Asitha Fernando, who has played for Sri Lanka's under-23 and emerging teams.

Source: The Economic Times

BDST: 1847 HRS, DEC 10, 2019
SMS