That incident made international cricket difficult to return in Pakistan. After all that time today was the day when Pakistan saw international players back in their country in white ball format after a decade.
Attached with it was a strong flair of nostalgia. Yes, Pakistan had some teams touring them for the shorter format but despite being a Test series and not talked about, it still was a frigging good experience when the test started.
The Rawalpindi stadium, where Sri Lanka had an excellent record, buzzed and the match started with a very straight delivery from Abbas which was blocked back to him.
Not much time ago, Pakistan failed to pick wickets on Australian soil and after seeing Sri Lankan openers seeing off the first session, Pakistan didn't feel much different either.
Dimuth Karunaratne and Oshada Fernando helped Sri Lanka to 88 at lunch. It was after the lunch when Pakistan started to make a comeback in the match. Shaheen providing the breakthrough, dismissing the skipper for a well-made 59.
His partner joined him soon when Naseem got one to jump, taking the outside edge. Abbas didn't look the bowler he can be with his tight lengthss and seam bowling. But he still managed to produce a jaffa to dismiss Chandimal after Shinwari found his first test wicket.
Mathews and Dhanajaya de Silva then provided the necessary resistance and didn't look like breaking anytime soon. Just before thr light forced the play to be called off for the day, Naseem picked Mathews.
1st day was all Sri Lanka's until lunch then Pakistan made a comeback and to send 4 of the batsmen back to pavilion. With de Silva and Dickwella on the crease, yoi can't say how Pakistan will tackle them tomorrow but first day should go as a balanced one.
With rain forecast the day after tomorrow, let's see how this Test turns out.
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