Sri Lanka to tour Pakistan after India pulls out

KARACHI, December 19, 2008 (AFP) - Sri Lanka have confirmed they will tour Pakistan next month in place of India, who cancelled their five-week series over the Mumbai attacks, a Pakistani cricket official said Friday.



"We are thankful to Sri Lankan Cricket for confirming a tour in place of India," Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief operating officer Salim Altaf told AFP.

Sri Lanka will play three Tests, three one-day internationals and a Twenty20 game in Pakistan next month on the heels of a tour of Bangladesh, which ends in mid-January.

"Sri Lanka is busy in Bangladesh and once they are free they will tour us.

We have sent a full itinerary to Sri Lanka and as soon as it is finalised we will announce it," said Altaf.

Sri Lanka are likely to play Test matches in Karachi, Lahore and Multan, while Karachi would host a one-dayer and the Twenty20 match.

The remaining one-dayers would likely be played in Lahore.

Pakistan last played a Test match in December last year, against India in Bangalore.

Sri Lanka will play two Tests in Bangladesh and feature in a tri-series there with Zimbabwe until January 16.

India Thursday called off their tour of Pakistan after New Delhi refused to grant