Preview: Since 2006, Pakistan had not won a bilateral series in Sri Lanka, be it in Test or ODIs. However, Misbah-ul-Haq and Azhar Ali's sides ended the barren run with convincing series victories in the three-match Test series and the five-match ODI series. Now, Shahid Afridi's men will look to extend the good run when they take on Sri Lanka in a two-match T20I series starting on 30th July. Meanwhile, the hosts, with a side brimming with youngsters, will be hoping to prevent Pakistan from making it three trophies in a row. There is a De Silva, a Jayasuriya and a Fernando in Sri Lanka's T20I squad, but these are all namesakes of the former Lankan cricketers, who will be eager to make an impression if given a chance in the two-match series. The Lasith Malinga-led side has as many as five uncapped players in the squad, along with experienced names like Tillakaratne Dilshan, Angelo Mathews, Nuwan Kulasekara and Thisara Perera.
Sri Lanka, in a transitional phase since the retirement of Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara (limited-overs cricket), will be keen to use this series as an opportunity to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the current lot of players and build a formidable team for the World T20 which will take place in India next year. While the experienced players know what roles they will have to play, the team management will also be hoping that they also provide guidance to the younger lot and help them adjust to the tough grind that comes with international cricket.
Mohammad Hafeez, Shoaib Malik, Mohammad Rizwan, Ahmed Shehzad and Sarfraz Ahmed, who all did well with the bat in the ODI series, will be hoping to replicate their success in the Twenty20 games, while Umar Akmal, if given an opportunity, will have a point to prove. Skipper Afridi will be hoping to lead from the front with both the bat and the ball, while Yasir Shah, the pick of the bowlers in this tour, will be keen to open his account in the T20 format. In the pace department, despite the absence of Wahab Riaz, Pakistan have enough fire power in the form of Mohammad Irfan, Anwar Ali, Zia-ul-Haq and Sohail Tanvir.
Match Date: 30th July, 2015 Start time: 19:00 local time Venue: R.Premadasa Stadium, Colombo Weather: Cloudy with a high of 28 degree Celsius Team News:
Sri Lanka:
Kusal Perera, the in-form Sri Lankan batsman, along with Dilshan, Mathews and Milinda Siriwardana came good with the bat in the final ODI and Sri Lanka will be hoping that they can carry their form over to the ODI series. They do not have Dinesh Chandimal or Lahiru Thirimanne, but Sri Lanka have plenty of options with five uncapped players in the squad.
For Pakistan, picking the eleven will be a lot more straightforward. The players who performed well in the ODI series are likely to retain their places with T20 specialists like Mukhtar Ahmed, Afridi and Tanvir to provide them support.
Probable XI: Mukhtar Ahmed, Ahmed Shehzad, Mohammad Hafeez, Shoaib Malik, Mohammad Rizwan, Sarfraz Ahmed, Shahid Afridi, Yasir Shah, Anwar Ali, Sohail Tanvir, Mohammad Irfan
Stats:
27: The number of runs Shoaib Malik requires to reach the milestone of 1000 T20I runs. He will become the fourth Pakistani player to do so.
4: The number of wickets Nuwan Kulasekara requires to reach 50 T20I wickets. He will become the third Sri Lankan bowler to do so.
Teams:
Pakistan (From): Mukhtar Ahmed, Ahmed Shehzad, Mohammad Hafeez, Nauman Anwar, Shoaib Malik, Umar Akmal, Shahid Afridi(c), Sarfraz Ahmed(w), Anwar Ali, Yasir Shah, Sohail Tanvir, Mohammad Rizwan, Zia-ul-Haq, Mohammad Irfan, Imad Wasim
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