Karachi's ODI return delayed as Sri Lanka match washed out

Heavy rain washed out the opening match of Sri Lanka's tour of Pakistan before play began on Friday, disappointing cricket fans who had flocked to the stadium for what was to be the first ODI played on a Karachi pitch in a decade.

Teams have been reluctant to visit the cricket-mad country since a deadly militant attack on the Sri Lankan team bus in Lahore in 2009, and Karachi has not hosted a one-day international since then.

Since then Pakistan have been forced to play nearly all of their "home" matches in the United Arab Emirates due to security concerns.

Heavy showers began as soon the teams were whisked into the National Stadium under tight security in the afternoon.

The disappointment from spectators was palpable.

"I came... to celebrate the return of cricket in Karachi but it turned out to be a damp squib," said Abu Bakar, a school student who came to the stadium with classmates.

"It's so sad," said Rubeena Ahmed, a bank employee in the stands.

"I took half a day off to watch my favourite players playing a one-day match after such a long time." Karachi will still host the remaining ODIs on the tour, with Sunday's match rescheduled to Monday to avoid possible rain.

The two teams will also play three Twenty20 internationals in Lahore next month.

- Security measures -
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