Test cricket returns to Pakistan: Rawalpindi gives visiting Sri Lanka a rousing reception

Security forces stand guard outside the Rawalpindi stadium on Wednesday morning. Pakistan has not hosted a Test match since the Sri Lanka team bus was attacked by terrorists in March 2009. Even in 2015, when Zimbabwe had visited Pakistan for an ODI series, the cricket had been marred by a suicide bombing outside the stadium. (AP Photo)

Javed Miandad was at the stadium on Wednesday morning as Rawalpindi prepared for the historic match. The significance of Miandad's presence, one of the captains of the national team when Pakistan had been more used to hosting international cricket, was not lost on the waiting crowd. (Twitter/PCB)

A roar went up as Azhar Ali and Dimuth Karunaratne walked out for the toss on Wednesday morning. It was the visiting captain who won the toss and opted to bat. (AP Photo)

Sri Lanka's tour of Pakistan is a momentous one because it can be hoped other international teams can follow them to visiting Pakistan. "The spectators gave us a lot of support. I saw some banners welcoming us so these are positive things. When you go to other countries, you don't always have supporters from other countries fans, but Pakistan have given us a good, warm welcome," visiting skipper Karunaratne said after the day's play. (AP Photo)

Sri Lanka made the most of winning the toss, adding 96 runs without any loss of wickets in the first 30 overs, as Pakistan's all-pace attack - perhaps succumbing to the pressure of the moment - started off on a wayward note. (AP Photo)

Shaheen Afridi was the first Pakistani bowler to take a wicket on home soil in 10 years, as he got Karunaratne out lbw. Suddenly, the floodgates seemed to open after this, with 31 wickets falling for 4 runs. Naseem Shah took the wicket of Karunaratne's opening partner Oshada Fernando, as Sri Lanka found themselves in trouble in the second session. (AP Photo)

Angelo Mathews and Dhananjaya de Silva put up a resistance for Sri Lanka after the pace onslaught had left their top order in tatters after a good start. Mathews was the second batsman to be cleaned up by young pace sensation Naseem Shah, for 31. (AP Photo)

Mohammad Abbas took the wicket of Dinesh Chandimal, as all of Pakistan's pacers managed to register themselves on the wickets column in the scorecard. Niroshan Dickwella joined De Silva in the middle, with bad light ending play prematurely on Day 1, with the Sri Lanka score on 202/5. (AP Photo)