GALLE (Web Desk) – Pakistan will play the first match of the three-match Test series against Sri Lanka in Galle on Wednesday (tomorrow).
Pakistan and Sri Lanka have already played six series in as many years, the last of which also took place on the island a year ago. The hosts won both Tests, leaving Pakistan without a win in Sri Lanka since 2006.
Pakistani captain Misbah-ul Haq, who turned 41 last month, hopes to rectify that record and build on a commendable 2-0 win over Australia in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) last year, followed by a 1-0 triumph in Bangladesh this May.
“It is always interesting to play Sri Lanka because both sides know each other’s game well,” said Misbah. “Pakistan has done well in Tests recently and that has given us a lot of confidence.”
Sri Lanka’s coach Marvan Atapattu said Pakistan will miss spin spearhead Saeed Ajmal, who was not selected after struggling with a remodelled bowling action on the Bangladesh tour last month.
“Ajmal at his peak gave a lot of batsmen sleepless nights,” Atapattu told the Colombo-based Nation newspaper. “Now that he is not there gives us a psychological advantage.
“I believe Pakistan have got bowlers who could win games, but they have not done it yet. But we’ve still got to respect the good ball and put away the bad ones,” the AFP quoted him saying this.
The opening match at the Galle International Stadium will be followed by the second Test at the P. Sara Oval in Colombo from June 25 and the third in Pallekele from July 3.
The Tests will be followed by five one-day internationals and two Twenty20 matches.
Squads:
PAKISTAN: Misbah-ul-Haq (capt), Azhar Ali, Mohammad Hafeez, Ahmed Shehzad, Shan Masood, Younis Khan, Asad Shafiq, Haris Sohail, Sarfraz Ahmed, Yasir Shah, Zulfiqar Babar, Wahab Riaz, Junaid Khan, Imran Khan, Ehsan Adil.
SRI LANKA: Angelo Mathews (capt), Lahiru Thirimanne, Kaushal Silva, Dimuth Karunaratne, Kumar Sangakkara, Dinesh Chandimal, Kithruwan Vithanage, Jehan Mubarak, Kusal Perera, Rangana Herath, Dilruwan Perera, Tharindu Kaushal, Nuwan Pradeep, Dhammika Prasad, Dushmantha Chameera, Suranga Lakmal (subject to fitness).
