PAK_SL_ODI1_PREMATCH_03AUG94

Pakistan v Sri Lanka, ODI1 (D/N), Khettarama, 3 Aug 94, Prematch

Sri Lanka include younger Ranatunga

Sanjeeva Ranatunga, the uncapped brother of Sri Lankan captain Arjuna, has been included in a 15-man party for today's first one-day international against Pakistan. The younger Ranatunga has won his place after scores of 97, 20 not out and 41 in successive innings against the tourists. Sri Lanka also include Kumar Dharmasena, the right-arm off-cutter who took seven Pakistani wickets for the Sri Lankan Cricket Board last week. The pressure is on Pakistan after they lost a warm-up limited-overs match against a second-string Sri Lankan XI by two wickets on Monday. That suits the elder Ranatunga, who said: "We have nothing to lose. We can only add to their pressure. "To have the one-dayers in one go is good. We can then sort out the Tests one by one. "It is true they have one of the best sides in the world. But when it comes to one-dayers, we have done pretty well," said Ranatunga. Intikhab Alam, the Pakistan manager, said Monday's defeat would not affect his team's performances in the main matches. "I don't want to take away the credit from them. We played serious cricket. But winning or losing doesn't matter. In one-day cricket anything can happen." If there was one heartening factor in the defeat, it was the resurgence of fast bowler Waqar Younis. He finally put behind his injury-stricken past and poor form by returning the best figures of three for 48. He will team up again with Wasim Akram, who has already made a mark on the tour. If Wasim can overcome a sore back, the pair could give Sri Lanka a torrid time. However, Ranatunga said: "Big names have never bothered us. If we play our normal game we can handle them well."

(Extracted from The Daily Telegraph)