Sri Lanka hope to avoid Pakistani backlash
Sri Lanka hope to avoid a Pakistani backlash in their first outing at Tangiers on Wednesday after Waqar Younis's side lost by 54 runs in the opening match of the Morocco Cup
Charlie Austin
13-Aug-2002
Sri Lanka hope to avoid a Pakistani backlash in their first
outing at Tangiers on Wednesday after Waqar Younis's side lost by
54 runs in the opening match of the Morocco Cup.
Pakistan will be desperate to comeback strongly after a
disappointing performance, but Sri Lankan captain Sanath
Jayasuriya is confident his side can make a victorious start to
their campaign.
"Spirits are high, we know what we have to do and everyone is
looking forward to the first game," said Jayasuriya, adding, "we
have picked the best possible squad for this tournament and I
believe it's a very good team.
"During the last two Sharjah tournaments we have been winning the
group games and then losing in the final - we want to improve on
that and perform consistently throughout this tournament."
Having seen how the pitch behaved on Monday, Jayasuriya has
called for a special effort from his bowlers.
"The wicket was quite flat and there will be a lot of hard work
for the bowlers," he said. "They are going to have bowl very
straight like the South Africans did yesterday."
Sri Lanka are still to decide on their preferred bowling
combination, but the absence of significant spin means that they
are likely to play three frontline fast bowlers and medium pace
all-rounder Hasantha Fernando ahead of leg-spinner Upul Chandana.
"The Pakistani batsmen are good players of spin and we have been
discussing the best combination, looking at how many fast bowlers
we need - the issue is who to play at the number seven position,"
said Jayasuriya.
Chaminda Vaas and Dilhara Fernando are certain to play, with
Pulasthi Gunaratne, who impressed during the final ODI against
Bangladesh, getting the nod for the final pace bowling berth.
Sri Lanka will also be looking ape South Africa's industrious and
disciplined approach in the batting department, which proved more
effective than Pakistan's more explosive style on a slow pitch.
"There is a lot of responsibility on the batsmen," said
Jayasuriya. "If we get a chance to bat first, one of us has to
get established and make a very good score like Herschelle
Gibbs."
Marvan Atapattu and Sanath Jayasuriya will open the batting, with
Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene and Russel Arnold in the
middle order and veteran Aravinda de Silva at number six.
Match winner Muttiah Muralitharan will play despite only being
90% fit having strained a hamstring in Sri Lanka's first practice
session after arrival.
After a disastrous tour of England, the mood within the Sri Lanka
camp is increasingly upbeat with selection and injury problems
fading into the background.
So far their greatest problem in Morocco has been their inability
to communicate in French.
"We have never been in this part of the world and the players are
enjoying the experience, but the French language has been a
problem - it's making it very difficult to order our food!" joked
Jayasuriya.
Pakistan, meanwhile, may consider changes to their bowling attack
after off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq conceded 80 runs in his allotted
ten overs.
Saqlain could make way for fast bowling all-rounder Azhar
Mahmood, a swap that have the additional advantage of
strengthening the batting order.
Sri Lanka: Sanath Jayasuriya
(Capt), Marvan Atapattu, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jaywardene,
Russel Arnold, Aravinda de Silva, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Upul
Chandana, Hasantha Fernando, Chaminda Vaas, Chamila Lakshitha
Gamage, Dilhara Fernando, Muttiah Muralitharan, Pulasthi
Gunaratne, Charitha Buddika Fernando
Pakistan:
Waqar Younis (Capt), Inzamam-ul-Haq, Abdul Razzaq, Azhar Mahmood,
Imran Nazir, Misbah-ul-Haq, Mohammad Sami, Rashid Latif, Saeed
Anwar, Saqlain Mushtaq, Shahid Alfridi, Shoaib Malik, Wasim
Akram, Younis Khan, Yousuf Youhana