Sri Lanka and Pakistan have agreed on a revised schedule for their ongoing series after a tropical downpour washed out the opening one-day international on Friday night.
The threat of further rain over the coming week has prompted Sri Lanka Cricket to introduce reserve days to prevent further abandonments and moved back the date of the third one-dayer.
The third and final game in the ODI series will now be played on March 22. As a result, the two-match Test series will also be pushed back by two days.
"There has been a sudden change in the island's weather,
which is unusual for this time of year and was not anticipated
when we planned the itinerary," board secretary Adel Hassim said.
"However, although it will increase our costs slightly, we made the changes because we feel we have a duty to the paying spectator to try and make sure the maximum cricket is played."
Revised schedule:
SECOND ODI: March 19 - Premadasa International Stadium
THIRD ODI: March 22 - Sinhalese Sports Club
FIRST TEST: March 26 - Sinhalese Sports Club
SECOND TEST: April 2 - Asgiriya International Stadium.
ATAPATTU RULED OUT OF ODIS AND TESTS: Injury-hit Sri Lanka Saturday suffered a major setback when captain Marvan Atapattu was ruled out of the ongoing one-dayers as well as the upcoming Tests against Pakistan.
"Marvan aggravated the injury while fielding in the first match on Friday and the medical staff have advised us to rest him for the one-dayers as well as the Tests," chief selector Lalith Kaluperuma said.
Atapattu's back injury added to the home side's woes as star batsman Sanath Jayasuriya (thigh), ace seamer Chaminda Vaas (side strain) and paceman Ruchira Perera (hamstring) are already nursing injuries.
Atapattu, who sustained the injury during the tour of Australia in January, aggravated it on Friday. Recurring back problems have frequently kept him on the injured list of late.
The selectors will not name a replacement for Atapattu and his deputy Mahela Jayawardene will lead the side.
The remaining one-dayers will be played here on Sunday and Wednesday with provisions for reserve days after the opening match was abandoned due to rain.
They will be followed by two Tests with Colombo and Kandy as the venues.
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