04 October 2004	Monday	18 Shaban 1425

KARACHI, Oct 3: The Sri Lankan cricket squad arrived here from Colombo on Sunday night on a month-long tour of Pakistan.

Led by Marvan Atapattu, the tourists were welcomed at the Quaid-i-Azam International Airport by Qamar Mansoor, the provincial sports minister, and senior representatives of the Pakistan Cricket Board and Karachi City Cricket Association.

Sri Lanka, the Asia Cup champions, will initially take part in the ongoing triangular tournament, which also involves Pakistan and Zimbabwe, before a two-Test series against the hosts.

The tourists will have their first practice session on Monday at the National Stadium. Later in afternoon, skipper Atapattu, coach John Dyson and manager Brendon Kuruppu will hold a media briefing at the team's hotel.

The Pakistan team, which is expected to reach here from Peshawar on Monday afternoon, will have nets on Tuesday. Meanwhile, the PCB on Sunday requested all former Test cricketers and ex-Test and international umpires based in the city to collect their complimentary tickets for Wednesday's tri-series match between Pakistan and Sri Lanka at the National Stadium.

All such players and umpires are advised to contact Razaullah Khan, manager of National Stadium, on Monday. Unlike in the home series against India last March, the PCB is offering these stalwarts tickets in the highest available denomination (Rs500 each).