Pak Vs SL Series: News & Updates

[M@zh@R]

Pakistan, Sri Lanka aim for improvement in ICC Test standings

Pakistan and Sri Lanka will be aiming to move upwards in the ICC Test Championship table when they go head to head in a three-Test series which starts at Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday.

Sri Lanka is currently sitting in fifth position on 103 ratings points, while Pakistan is nine ratings points behind in sixth position.

However, all this can change depending how the series pans out. While Sri Lanka only needs to win the series to leapfrog fourth-ranked Australia, Pakistan needs to win by a 2-0 or better if it wants to move ahead of Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka's 1-0 or 2-1 series win will put it one ratings point ahead of Australia, a 2-0 win will place it on 107 ratings points, while a 3-0 win will give it a lead of four ratings points over Australia, the ICC said in a statement.

On the other hand, if Pakistan wins by a 2-0 margin it will move to 100 ratings points while relegating Sri Lanka to 97 ratings points whereas in case of a 3-0 win, Pakistan will rise to 102 ratings points -- just two behind Australia -- and Sri Lanka will drop to 96 ratings points.
Newspaper: Indian Express

 

[M@zh@R]

SL dangerous in familiar conditions: Misbah

Abu Dhabi: Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq has warned against reading too much into Sri Lanka's 11-Test win-less streak as it prepares to host the islanders in a three-Test series starting on Tuesday in the Emirates.

"Sri Lanka, no doubt, is one of the best teams in the world and especially in these conditions," Misbah said on Sunday. "On the subcontinent, they are really a tough side so we are aware of that. We really have to play well to do well against them.

"It doesn't matter that they have not been winning because they were playing in England, different conditions. But in these conditions, I know, and we all know, that Sri Lanka is a very good side."

The Lankans haven't won a match since offspinning great Muttiah Muralitharan retired with a record 800th wicket last July in the opening Test against India at Galle.

India rebounded to draw that series 1-1, while Sri Lanka was held to 0-0 at home by West Indies in a rain-plagued contest last December before losing successive 2011 series 1-0, in England in the summer and last month against Australia at home.

Both teams enter the series with new coaches.

Sri Lanka has appointed former Australia opener Geoff Marsh as the long-term successor to Trevor Bayliss after using Stuart Law and Rumesh Ratnayake in interim roles.

 

[Karthik]

Pak won the toss and elected to field. Sri.50/1 at lunch.

 

[M@zh@R]

Afridi ready to play for Pakistan again

ISLAMABAD: World Cup captain Shahid Afridi says he is ready to play for Pakistan again now that a new chairman is in charge of the Pakistan Cricket Board.

Afridi led Pakistan to the World Cup semifinals in March but quit international cricket two months later after clashing with coach Waqar Younis and former Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Ijaz Butt.

Afridi, one of Pakistan's greatest limited-overs players, was dumped as captain by Butt in May after beating the West Indies in the Caribbean, prompting his conditional retirement.

He said at the time he could reverse his decision if the leadership changed. Banker Zaka Ashraf replaced Butt as the PCB chairman last week.
Newspaper: Times Of India, 18th Oct

 

[M@zh@R]

Dilshan wants support for Herath to tame Pakistan

Sri Lankan skipper Tillakaratne Dilshan wants his bowlers to help the prolific left-armer Rangana Herath tame Pakistan in the first Test starting here today.

Sri Lanka have struggled in bowling in Tests since the retirement of spin wizard Muttiah Muralitharan (highest Test wicket taker with 800), losing three Tests and drawing eight with only Herath threatening to take wickets.
They have also missed slinger Lasith Malinga, who retired from Tests earlier this year because of injury problems, leaving the new-ball attack in the inexperienced hands of Chanaka Welegedara and Suranga Lakmal.

The Lankans have five fast bowlers for the three-Test series against Pakistan and despite sharing only 58 wickets between them, Dilshan hopes the pacemen will help his team end a victory drought.

"The future for our success lies with our fast bowlers. In the spin department only Herath has proved himself a top-quality bowler," said Dilshan of the spinner who has 100 wickets in 29 Tests.

Herath took 16 wickets in the two of the three Tests he played against Australia last month but found no support from the other end in the home series which Sri Lanka lost 1-0.

"If we hope to win Test matches we will have to have the support of the other spinners as well," said Dilshan of the slow attack which also has off-spinner Suraj Randiv, who has 19 wickets in five Tests. Dilshan was confident his team will adjust to the conditions of United Arab Emirates.

"This is the first time we are playing a Test series in UAE. But we have got very good, experienced players and they should adjust quickly to the conditions," said Dilshan.
Newspaper: Mid Day, 18th Oct

 

[M@zh@R]

Pakistan v Sri Lanka, 1st Test, Abu Dhabi, At the end of 1st day

Pakistan Won the Toss and Elected to Field 1st

Sri Lanka 197 All Out Ist Inng
Mathews 52*
Paranavitana 37

Pakistan Bowling
Junaid Khan 38/5
Umar Gul 37/2
Saeed Ajmal 56/2
Aziz Cheema 51/1

Pakistan 28/0 1st Inng Batting
Taufeeq Umar 8*
Hafeez 17*

 

[M@zh@R]

ABU DHABI: Left-arm pacer Junaid Khan chipped in with a maiden five-wicket haul to help Pakistan bundle Sri Lanka for a mere 197-run total on the first day of the opening Test on Tuesday.

Scorecard

The 21-year-old, playing in only his second Test, with 5/38 and was ably supported by pace partner Umar Gul (2/37) and off-spinner Saeed Ajmal (2/56) after Pakistan put Sri Lanka into bat on a greenish Abu Dhabi stadium pitch.

Pakistan finished the day at 27/0, with Mohammad Hafeez on 17 and Taufiq Umar unbeaten on eight.

Sri Lanka, who were confidently placed at 51/1 at lunch, could never recover from the loss of six wickets for 65 runs between lunch and tea, as Khan produced a burst of three wickets in the space of just five deliveries.

Vice-captain Angelo Mathews cracked four boundaries and a six in a fighting unbeaten 52 to avoid total disaster, putting up innings' highest partnership with Suranga Lakmal of 54 after Sri Lanka were tottering at 114/7.
Newspaper: Times Of India, 19th Oct

 

[M@zh@R]

Sri Lanka bundled out cheaply

Left-arm paceman Junaid Khan took his maiden five-wicket haul to help Pakistan bundle Sri Lanka out for a mere 197 runs on the first day of the opening Test here on Tuesday.

The 21-year-old, playing in only his second Test, had figures of five for 38. He was ably supported by pace partner Umar Gul, who had two for 37, and off-spinner Saeed Ajmal, who took two for 56, after Pakistan invited Sri Lanka to bat on a greenish Abu Dhabi stadium pitch.

Pakistan finished the day at 27 for no loss, with Mohammad Hafeez on 17 and Taufiq Umar on eight. Sri Lanka, which was confidently placed at 51 for one at lunch, could not recover from the loss of six wickets for 65 runs between lunch and tea, as Junaid produced a burst of three wickets in the space of just five deliveries.

Vice-captain Angelo Mathews cracked four boundaries and a six in a fighting 52 not out to avoid total disaster, putting up the innings' highest partnership of 54 with Suranga Lakmal after Sri Lanka was tottering at 114 for seven.

Paceman Aizaz Cheema (one for 51) had triggered the collapse by dismissing Kumar Sangakkara for just two. in the second over after lunch, forcing an edge off the left-hander which was smartly held by a diving 'keeper Adnan Akmal. — Agencies

Sri Lanka — 1st innings: T. Paranavitana c Akmal b Gul 37, L. Thirimanne c Younis b Ajmal 20, K. Sangakkara c Akmal b Cheema 2, M. Jayawardene c Hafeez b Junaid 28, T. Dilshan c Akmal b Ajmal 19, A. Mathews (not out) 52, P. Jayawardene b Junaid 0, R. Herath lbw b Junaid 0, S. Lakmal c Hafeez b Gul 18, C. Welegedara c Umar b Junaid 11, N. Pradeep c Adnan b Junaid 1; Extras (lb-3, nb-5, w-1): 9; Total (in 74.1 overs): 197.

Fall of wickets: 1-48, 2-51, 3-79, 4-112, 5-112, 6-112, 7-114, 8-168, 9-193.

Pakistan bowling: Gul 11-1-37-2, Cheema 15-5-51-1, Hafeez 9-3-12-0, Junaid 14.1-3-38-5, Ajmal 25-5-56-2.

Pakistan — 1st innings: M. Hafeez (batting) 17, T. Umar (batting) 8; Extras (nb-2): 2; Total (for no loss in eight overs): 27.

Sri Lanka bowling: Welegedara 2-0-9-0, Lakmal 3-0-8-0, Herath 2-1-2-0, Pradeep 1-0-8-0.
Newspaper: The Hindu,19th Oct

 

[Ravi budhwar]

Pakistan is going very strong and just near to srilankan total and the current score is 178-1 in 72.3 overs

 

[Ravi budhwar]

Pakistan surpasses srilankan score and current score is 208-1 in 83 overs and lead is now 11 runs