Cricket Cricket Sri Lanka arrives for first Test tour in Pakistan since 2009 attack The first Test starts in the garrison city of Rawalpindi on Wednesday, while the second begins in Karachi on December 19. AFP 09 December, 2019 13:14 IST Sri Lankan cricketers arrive in Pakistan for the two-Test series. - pcb AFP 09 December, 2019 13:14 IST Sri Lanka arrived for the first Test cricket tour of Pakistan in 10 years on Monday following the deadly 2009 attack on their team that plunged Pakistan into sporting isolation.“The arrival of Sri Lankan team is a historic occasion and we are delighted to host the two-match Test series starting from Wednesday,” said Pakistan Cricket Board chief executive Waseem Khan.The first Test starts in the garrison city of Rawalpindi on Wednesday, while the second begins in Karachi on December 19.A video tweeted by the PCB showed the Sri Lankan team arriving in Islamabad and being escorted by armed security forces.The tour marks the return of Test cricket to Pakistan after a decade of isolation triggered by the attack in Lahore, which killed eight people and wounded several cricketers. Touchdown Islamabad @OfficialSLC arrived this morning for the #PAKvSL Test series.The action starts in two days, get your tickets now. See you at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. pic.twitter.com/FKlr7nm6vb— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) December 9, 2019 For years, Pakistan has been forced to play all its home matches in neutral venue the United Arab Emirates as foreign teams refused to tour the country over security fears.But as security has improved Pakistan has hosted a smattering of smaller matches including Twenty20 series with Zimbabwe and the West Indies, and an increasing number of domestic league matches featuring international players.But until now no team has returned for a Test match, the five-day format considered the pinnacle of the game.Sri Lanka toured Pakistan for three one-day internationals and as many Twenty20s in September and October, and said they were satisfied with the security arrangements before confirming the Test tour. Read more stories on Cricket. For more updates, follow Sportstar on :