(UTV|COLOMBO) – The first one-day international match between Pakistan and Sri Lanka that was due to kick off today was called off due to heavy rain in Karachi.
The Pakistan Cricket Board announced a complete refund for tickets under international rules, as the heavy rain made it impossible for even the toss to take place.
According to officials, the cut-off time for the match was 8:30pm, but it was called off at 4:30pm as it became clear that it would be impossible for staff to drain out rainwater dumped onto the field by a thunderstorm that struck a couple of hours before the match was due to start.
The rain water affected the pitch as well as the field in the stadium.
The second ODI will be played in the National Stadium Karachi on Sunday.
This was the first time a match was called off in the stadium due to rain.
Karachi has not hosted a one-day international since January 2009 when Sri Lanka played two back-to-back matches at the National Stadium.
But in March of that year, during the same tour, the Sri Lankan team bus was attacked in Lahore – forcing the suspension of international cricket in Pakistan.
Pakistan, forced to play home matches in the neutral venues of the United Arab Emirates, convinced Sri Lanka Cricket to send their team, assuring them of stringent security with 2 000 personnel guarding the teams around the hotel and stadium.
Ten top Sri Lankan players, including their ODI captain Dimuth Karunaratne and former captains Angelo Mathews and Dinesh Chandimal, withdrew from the tour. (NR)
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