Pakistanis are here, keen and eager series in the offing

by Jatila KARAWITA

CRICKET: World Twenty20 cricket champs Pakistan are in town. They will play a thrilling Mobitel three-Test and five ODI series and a Twenty20 match against Sri Lanka on the tour from July 4 to August 12.

Led by their inspirational skipper Younus Khan, Pakistan are in a buoyant mood after their good win against Sri Lanka in the Twenty20 final at Lord’s and will be keen on keeping their success going in the matches against Sri Lanka on this tour. However, Sri Lanka, on their home soil is bound to be a different kettle of fish and is bound to give the visitors a good run for their money in the more than month-long series of matches. The Lankans will be hoping for better things in the Tests against the Pakistanis.

The Sri Lankans led by that fine batsman Kumar Sangakkara are a capable set of cricketers.

Pakistan have some fine cricketers in skipper Younus Khan, Misbah-ul-Haq, Salman Butt, Kamran Akmal, Soaib Malik, Umar Gul and Danish Kaneria in their ranks and they have every reason to feel optimistic of their chances in the upcoming Mobitel three-Test series against Sri Lanka. There is also Mohammad Yousuf, who rejoined the Pakistan team after bidding ‘goodbye’ to the ICL just one month ago, to become the second ICL player to come back to the Test fold after Abdul Razzaq and much is expected from this duo. Yousuf, a veteran of 79 Tests twice joined the ICL and faced legal sanctions, before finally joining the national cricket team.

A veteran of the past Shoaib Akhtar - the paceman who was dropped from the Twenty20 squad on fitness grounds to accomodate Rao Iftikar Anjum, failed to find a place in the tour party to Sri Lanka.

Shahid Afridi - one of the star players in the Pakistan Twenty20 side that won the Twenty20 World Cup was left out of the team for the Tests against Sri Lanka as he wanted a rest, will however, be in the side for the limited-over clashes against Sri Lanka.

Pakistan has an effective pace attack of Umar Gul who was most successful in the Twenty20 tourney in England with 13 wickets. Then there is Abdul Razzaq, Mohammad Aamir and Abdul Rauf to form a quartet of pacemen.

For the Sri Lankans, it will be a testing time especially for skipper Kumar Sangakkara who will lead the Lankans for the first time in a Test series. After losing to Pakistan in the Twenty20 tourney in England, Sangakkara will be deterimed to change things, starting with the Test series.

Kumar Sangakkara will be happy to have with him left-arm paceman Chaminda Vaas, middle-order batsman Thilan Samaraweera (now recovered after the Lahore mishap, openers Malinda Warnapura and Ranga Paranavithana will no doubt, boost the team. Then there will also be the star of Twenty20 tourney - Thillakaratne Dilshan, mystery spinner Ajantha Mendis, Muttiah Muralitharan.The Mobitel three-Test series will be somewhat emotional for the Sri Lankans as it will also be their first outing in the established form of the game after their horrowful experience in Lahore.

Teams

PAKISTAN (from): Younis Khan (Capt), Misbah-Ul-Haq, (V-Capt), Salman Butt, Khurram Manzoor, Mohammad Yousuf, Shoaib Malik, Kamran Akmal, Umar Gul, Saeed Ajmal, Mohammad Aamir, Danish Kaneria, Abdul Razzaq, Abdur Rauf, Faisal Iqbal, Favad Alam.

SRI LANKA (from): Kumar Sangakkara (Capt), Malimda Warnapura, Tharanga Paranavithana, Mahela Jayawardene, Thillakaratna Dilshan, Thilan Samaraeera, Farveez Maharoof, Angelo Mathews, Chaminda Vaas, Mulliah Muralitharan, Ajantha Mendis, Lasith Malinga, Dhammika Prasad, Isuru Udana, Thilan Thushara Mirando.

UMPIRES: Simon Taufel (Australia), Billy Doctrove (West Indies), Mark Benson (England), Asoka de Silva, Kumar Dharmasena and T. H. Wijewardena (Television Umpires).Match Referee - Alan Hurst (Australia).

Match schedule: July 4-8 1st Test at Galle International Stadium. July 12-16 2nd Test at Colombo Oval. July 20-24 3rd Test at SSC grounds, Colombo. July 30 - 1st ODI at Dambulla International Stadium. Aug 1 - 2nd ODI at Dambulla International Stadium. Aug 3 - 3rd ODI at Dambulla International Stadium. Aug 7 - 4th ODI at Khettarama Stadium, Colombo. Aug 9 - 5th ODI at Khettarama Stadium, Colombo. Aug 12 - Twenty20 International at Khettarama Stadium, Colombo.