|
|
 |
  |
| Sunday, 3 October 2004 |
 |
|
 |
Sports |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
|
Maintain consistency - Atapattu by Ranjan Anandappa Despite the inability to make much headway in the recently concluded ICC Champions Trophy in England, Sri Lanka will take wing to Pakistan with their heads high to take part in a Triangular Paktel Limited-over competition and a two Tests match series. Sri Lanka left this morning for a one month long tour which begins with a three-cornered one-day series with Zimbabwe the third country followed by a two-Test series against host Pakistan. Sri Lanka will meet Pakistan on October 6 in their opening match at Karachi. The tour will serve as an acid test for the Sri Lankan side as to how successfully a mixture of experience and inexperience would blend. It will be important for Marvan Atapattu, now in full charge, as to how he delivers away from home. The Lankans have won 19 of their previous 24 ODI's the majority played on home soil and a win abroad will undoubtly do a world of good for the country's cricket. "We have done reasonably well despite the previous losses. Maintaining consistency is the most important factor. We have had our up's and down's and I do not say that we should maintain one hundred percent consistantly, but if we can have seventy-five-percent of success, it should be good", said Marvan Atapattu the captain, after the completion of their final practice session at the SSC nets on Friday. The tournament began last Thursday when Pakistan met Zimbabwe where the hosts defeated the visitors quite convincingly. On paper it should be a two-cornererd tussle between Sri Lanka and Pakistan with Zimbabwe carrying a virtual depleted and inexperienced side due to internal conflict which has tripped them. Pakistan is always a difficult side to beat with the home advantage, while Sri Lanka should have enough experience playing in sub-continent conditions and Zimbabwe cannot be just written off in this funny game of one dayers. The Lankans were made to sweat to beat the Zimbabwean team at the recently concluded ICC Championship in England in conditions that were not to their liking. But that is no excuse in this highly professional game. Sri Lanka's best season in Pakistan came in 1995 under the leadership of Arjuna Ranatunga who won both the Test series 2-1 and the one-day series which created a new dimension in Sri Lankan cricket, and a few months later they went on to win the World Cricket Cup in Lahore in 1996. Sanath Jayasuriya, who created a sensation in batting, and Chaminda Vaas, are the only two surviving members of that team in the present tour party. Pakistan will go out as favourites despite Sri Lanka's record of 19 wins. Pakistan carries to this contest the morale-boosting confidence being semifinalist at the ICC Championship while the Lankans fared poorly. Pakistan however, lost to West Indies badly in the semi-finals and will no doubt try to make amends by winning the championship. Of selections, a glaring factor is the questionable omission of the 'new find' pacie Lasith Malinga from the one-day series. Malinga's express side-arm deliveries even rocked the mighty Aussie batsmen and the South Africans who fared miserably in the recently concluded Test and one-day series. Malinga's lack of direction while bowling may have prompted the selectors to keep him away from the ODI squad but he will no doubt make his appearance for the two-Test series which will commence soon after the Triangular one-day series. Newly appointed Manager Brendon Kuruppu, the former Test and one-day dashing opening batsman who scored 201 n.o. in his debut against New Zealand in 1987 and who has also taken part in two World Cup competitions in 1983 in England and in 1987 in India and Pakistan, said that apart from Zimbabwe where Sri Lanka won a one-day series, the rest have been at home. "Earlier we lost to Australia 3-0 in a home series and to India in an Asia Cup match and England beat us in the ICC Championship preliminary round match, but, we possess a well-knit combination, we have a young and balanced side with every player combining well." "When you analyse most of our wins, they have been team efforts and we hope to carry on in the same vein", said Kuruppu. Tour party Marvan Atapattu (Captain), Mahela Jayawardena, Sanath Jayasuriya, Avishka Gunawardena, Saman Jayantha, Kumar Sangakkara (wicket keeper), T. M. Dilshan, Thilina Kandamby, Chaminda Vaas, Nuwan Zoysa, Dilhara Fernando, Ferveez Maharoof, Upul Chandana, Kaushal Lokuarachchi, Rangana Herath. Manager Brendon Kuruppu, Coach - John Dyson, Computer analyst and fielding coach - Ruwan Kalpage, Physio - C. J. Clark, Trainer - Shane Duff. Paktel Cup One-day series Sept. 30 Pakistan vs Zimbabwe at Multan. October 3: Pakistan vs Zimbabwe at Peshawar, October 6: Sri Lanka vs Pakistan at Karachi, October 9: Sri Lanka vs Zimbabwe at Rawalpindi, October 11: Sri Lanka vs Zimbabwe at Rawalpindi, October 14: Sri Lanka vs Pakistan at Lahore D\N, October 16: Final at Lahore D\N. Test series October 20 - 24 1st Test at Faisalabad, 2nd Test October 28 - November 1. |
|
| News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security
| Produced by Lake House |
