Filed under 1st ODI - 20 Jan 09

Pakistan is cricket starved.. only Bangladesh & Zimbabwe played ODI series in Pakistan in year 2008 besides Asia cup in June-July.

Since then, Pakistan board has suffered loss of tour by Australia, Champions Trophy and a full tour by high profile Indian cricket team. As International cricket schedule is set on yearly basis, Pakistan team found no country free enough to organize even an overseas tour, except West Indies who played 3 ODI series versus Pakistan at Abu Dhabi in November 2008.

No more, here are Srilankans on Pakistani shores. Sri Lanka vs Pakistan cricket series 2009 starts tomorrow with first of 3 Oneday international series followed by test series a fortnight's later.

Hopefully, Pakistani fans will fill up the stadiums & embrace Lankan team with all the love & cheers!

Srilanka and Pakistan have played a total of 25 ODIs in Pakistan and result isn't as bad for visitors with 10 wins while losing 15. Lahore has been happy hunting ground for Srilanka with 5 wins at the venue whereas National stadium in Karachi, where this first one day international will be played, has fetched 4 loss & only 2 wins for Lankans.. Interestingly, Srilanka have won 8 of their last 10 one day cricket matches against Pakistan in Pakistan since 1995!

Officials : England Umpire Nigel Long will be standing in this 3 ODI series with Nadeem Gauri & Asad Rauf as home umpires. Former English batsman Chris Broad has been appointed as match referee for this ODI series.

Smart Stat : Muthiah Muralitharan is just 9 wickets away from breaking Wasim Akram's record for most wickets in ODI cricket at 502 sticks!

Start Time : of this Srilanka vs Pakistan ODI at Karachi is quite confusing. Generally, a Day-Night one day international played in Pakistan starts 2pm in afternoon but this game will be starting 12 noon - 2 hours earlier as it's winter season in sub-continent & dew/light/transportation becomes problem late at night.

So, match start timing according to India = 12.30pm, Sydney = 6pm, Brisbane = 5pm in Australia, 2am Canada time, 3pm Malaysia/Singapore time, 8pm New Zealand time, 9am South Africa time, 7am Britain timing, 11pm California (Los Angeles, San Fransisco) time, 2am Boston & New York City timing in USA.

Cricket fans in Middle East (Dubai, abu Dhabi, ) can watch the live action starting at 11am of this first one day match between Srilanka in Pakistan on 20th January 2009.

Preview : Srilanka - Pakistan start 3 ODI series

Scorecard : Pakistan vs Srilanka, 1st ODI, Karachi : 20 January 2009

1st ODI : Rao Iftikhar Anjum & Umar Gul bowl Pakistan to victory