Strategy planned for series: Jayasuriya

Karachi, Feb 9: Sri Lanka captain Sanath Jayasuriya said on Wednesday that his team had no problems with the delayed announcement of Pakistan team for the first one-day international scheduled for Sunday.

"We know that there will be players in the Pakistan team who have been playing together for sometime and have appeared against us in the past. So, I don't think our strategy is being affected with the delay in announcement," he said at the National Stadium after his team's training session.

He said his team, at present, was basically playing to acclimatize and adjust to the new conditions. But he admitted that there was a game plan which was chalked out after watching Pakistan team play in Australia.

"There may be a few changes but there would be players who have to be in the team and those players will not be new to us.

"The strategy can be revised because Pakistan will anyway announce the squad on Thursday which will leave us with three days," he said.

Asked if the non-availability of Shoaib Akhtar and Waqar Younis added by fitness doubts over Abdur Razzaq would give Sri Lanka an additional edge over Pakistan, Jayasuriya said: "Pakistan has produced brilliant fast bowlers in the recent times. I am sure if some experienced fast bowlers are not available, the selectors will be able to include equally good pacers.

"Besides, Wasim Akram himself is one of the greatest fast bowlers who can alone swing the match in Pakistan's way. Sri Lanka is not at all complacent with the possible absence of Shoaib and Waqar."

The 30-year-old left-hander said he was impressed with the young Pakistani fast bowlers who played in Tuesday's game. But he said they bowled too many no-balls.

"The two fast bowlers (Zahid Saeed and Irfan Fazil) bowled quite fast and were nippy. But they conceded too many extras in no-balls.

Jayasuriya said he would be playing his own game in the limited overs games. He said he was watchful on Tuesday because he had been playing his first match in about six weeks.

"After the Zimbabwe tour, I had a surgery in my right hand. So my objective was to occupy the crease and set my eye before I go for my shots."

He didn't promise fireworks but assured that the spectators will watch the same Jayasuriya who is known for his lusty hitting. "I will not change my style."

The visiting team skipper expressed his satisfaction over the tour itinerary saying that the harder the players will get tour schedules, the quicker they will learn.

"Similar was the itinerary in Zimbabwe. So I don't think that would affect our performance. I think these type of itineraries help the players get mentally and physically tough because they know that they have to perform consistently to contribute in team's success."

Jayasuriya disagreed that one-day cricket was basically a batsmen's game. He argued that recently, the wickets that have been prepared in favour of bowlers have resulted in low scoring matches.

"The trend of the match goes according to the wicket on which the game is being played. I feel that the present law is perfect and should not be modified to assist bowlers in the death overs," he observed.