At Sinhalese Sports Club, Colombo, August 19, 20, 21, 23, 24. Cancelled without a ball bowled because of the curfew following the general election.

The Sri Lankan board's decision to cancel was not universally approved. The local press protested that Sri Lanka desperately needed more Test exposure and had had plenty of limited-overs cricket. The argument was that the Test could have been staged a day later.

It seemed to be going ahead as normal when the two teams arrived at the ground and held nets on what should have been the first morning; the umpires walked on to the field and, after inspecting the pitch, which was still wet after overnight rain, decided that play should begin 40 minutes late. It was shortly after they returned to the pavilion that the board secretary, former captain Anura Tennekoon, circulated a press release announcing the change of plan. Pakistani manager Intikhab Alam supported the decision – he did not think the atmosphere in Colombo was right for Test cricket. But it was a disappointment for the players, who had already been holed up in their hotel for almost a week since wrapping up the First Test in four days.

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