KARACHI, Jan 17: The Sri Lankan cricket squad, led by Mahela Jayawardene, is scheduled to arrive in the city on Sunday for the three-match One-day International series against Pakistan.

Sri Lanka are coming here directly from the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka after completing a victorious tour that saw them win both the Test series and the triangular tournament, which also involved Zimbabwe.

Sri Lanka overcame a spirited Bangladesh side in Friday’s final in Dhaka to clinch the one-day tournament by just two wickets. Earlier they had won both Tests in Dhaka and Chittagong.

Jayawardene and Sri Lanka’s Australian coach Trevor Bayliss are due to hold a media conference on Sunday at the team’s hotel at 4.30pm.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) invited Sri Lanka to fill the gap created by India’s refusal to visit Pakistan on a scheduled tour following the tragic events in Mumbai last November. The Indians were slated to play three Tests, five One-day Internationals and a Twenty20 International on the trip that would have started on Jan 4.

Sri Lanka Cricket, who like the PCB are in a financial crisis, graciously accepted PCB’s offer but requested numerous changes in the original itinerary drawn up before finally agreeing on a split ODI and Test tour.

After playing the Pakistan ODI series, the Sri Lankans will immediately head home to host India in a hastily-arranged series of five One-day Internationals and a Twenty20 International between Jan 28 and Feb 10. They will then return to Pakistan for two Tests in mid-February.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan squad underwent an extensive two-hour training session at the National Stadium on Saturday afternoon under the supervision of coach Intikhab Alam with all players in attendance.

The first two one-dayers in Karachi will be played on Tuesday and Wednesday before the short series winds up with the final game in Lahore next Saturday.

Sri Lankan squad: Mahela Jayawardene (captain), Kumar Sangakkara (vice-captain), Sanath Jayasuriya, Upul Tharanga, Chamara Kapugedera, Tillekeratne Dilshan, Jehan Mubarak, Angelo Mathews, Farveez Maharoof, Nuwan Kulasekara, Thilan Thushara, Muttiah Muralitharan, Ajantha Mendis, Dilhara Fernando, Thilina Kandamby.

Coach: Trevor Bayliss.