SRI LANKA SHOULD FIRE ALL CYLINDERS AGAINST PAKISTAN – By Sunil Thenabadu

After many positives from the first game Sri Lanka is ready to play against Pakistan in their second world cup game today (10) at Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, Hyderabad,commencing at 2pm.

This game is going to be a close tussle as Pakistan led by Babar Azam ready to face challenge against Sri Lanka after defeating Sri Lanka at the Asia Cup in Sri Lanka. Pakistan team packed with good bowlers and they are always a challenge for Sri Lanka batters and Sri Lanka batters have to play at their best against this bowling attack to put up a good fight.

Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali the three pacemen are in good form and their task is to get early breakthrough and Sri Lanka batting line up came back strongly at their last South Africa game and this is a plus point for Sri Lanka team. Skipper Dasun Shanaka came back strongly to make a fighting half century which came after 18 innings but the way Shanaka batted in Delhi wicket he could easily get full confidence.

The wicket keeper batter Kusal Mendis is in good form while his explosive knock against South Africa gave him a big boost. However Sri Lanka is worried about their openers and that has to be considered in today’s game.

The opener Pathum Nissanka is a good stroke maker but he should realize to make consistent performance while Kusal Janith Perera the dashing stroke maker is not in his usual form and he has to come back as soon as possible. Sri Lanka team has experienced Dimuth Karunaratne who can bat as opener and his ability to stay at the wicket lays a solid platform. But still team management has not decided to name either Dimuth or Kusal Janith as an opening partner for Nissanka. In addition Dhananjaya de Silva could make impet as an all rounder and he should make use of his experience and put in maximum effort to get success.

Sri Lanka team had light training session yesterday morning after coming from Delhi and the wicket between Delhi and Hyderabad is different and Sri Lanka team must consider that fact. Pakistan who had first game on this same ground against Afghanistan which they won by 85 runs having successful training sessions also have good confidence about this Hyderabad wicket and that is a plus point for them.

The wicket could be more favourable for spinners as Pakistan is expecting their key spinner Shadab Khan with Ifthikar Ahmed, Mohammed Nawaz to pose a challenge but their strength of fast bowlers always is a big bonus compared to Sri Lanka pacemen. Sri Lanka most probably come up with two spinners and their key spinner Maheesh Theekshana will come back to play his first game after recovering from injury. Theekshana who has lot of experience playing with IPL and his spin bowling will be a big challenge to Pakistan top order batters during first power play.

Sri Lanka pacemen Dilshan Madushanka, Matheesha Pathirana and Kasun Rajitha punished by South Africa batting line up in Delhi but that is a flat wicket and paceman should realise the wicket condition to get their full potential. Lahiru Kumara who didn’t play at first game in next in line for today’s game but team most probably add one more spinner and drop a paceman and hope to get more service from bowling all rounder Dasun Shanaka.

The game is important for two teams while Pakistan wanted to come up with back to back wins but Sri Lanka also determined to get their first win to go forward. They know winning mentality is vital at this first round which contain nine matches and after this game they have seven matches to get highest points for semi finals.

Meanwhile Sri Lanka team also more focused about their fielding and senior team management member said they have focused about bowling and Fielding but all three departments are vital to get win. Most important thing is to adjust to the wicket and play positive cricket said a team official.

Two teams

Pakistan squad: Babar Azam (c), Shadab Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Abdullah Shafique, Mohammad Rizwan, Saud Shakeel, Iftikhar Ahmed, Salman Ali Agha, Mohammad Nawaz, Usama Mir, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Afridi, Mohammad Wasim.

Sri Lanka squad: Dasun Shanaka (c), Kusal Mendis (vc), Kusal Perera, Pathum Nissanka, Dimuth Karunaratne, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dushan Hemantha, Maheesh Theekshana, Dunith Wellalage, Kasun Rajitha, Matheesha Pathirana, Lahiru Kumara, Dilshan Madushanka.