The visitors followed up their 2-1 Test series victory with a 3-2 triumph in the one-dayers, meaning they have the chance to sweep their hosts before heading home.
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Today, the first Twenty20 worldwide between Pakistan and Sri Lanka will be played in Colombo, Pakistan’s skipper Shahid Afridi will look to extend the good run when they take on Sri Lanka in a two match T20 series.
But behind their T20 captain, veteran fast bowler Lasith Malinga, Sri Lanka will present a whole new look to their subcontinent rivals, with five players making their global debuts in the XI selected for the first T20 match.
Sri Lanka’s 15-man squad includes five uncapped players in batsmen Shehan Jayasuriya, Dasun Shanaka and Dhananjaya de Silva, fast bowler Binura Fernando, and Jeffrey Vandersay, the legspinner.
Though he did not mention Chandimal in particular, Malinga suggested that both he and Lahiru Thirimanne had been omitted from the squad against Pakistan because they were known entities, and Sri Lanka sought to test domestic performers at the top level before the World T20.
“We need to get the younger brigade in the stream so that we have a gradual transition leading up to the next World T20 and the 50-over World Cup beyond that”, said the Sri Lanka chief selector Kapila Wijegunawardene.
Recently Pakistan team won the Test series after a long wait and recently they have won the ODI series after nine years. Zia-ul-Haq-another left-armer-takes Wahab’s place.
Leg-spinner Yasir Shah, who had played two T20 internationals during Zimbabwe tour in 2011, has made comeback to national T20 squad following his impressive performance in three Tests against Sri Lanka, in which he bagged 24 wickets.
Pakistan: Shahid Afridi (c), Sarfraz Ahmed (wk), Ahmed Shehzad, Mohammad Hafeez, Shoaib Malik, Umar Akmal, Mohammad Rizwan, Mukhtar Ahmed, Nauman Anwar, Anwar Ali, Mohammad Irfan, Sohail Tanvir, Yasir Shah, Imad Wasim, Zia-ul-Haq.
Sri Lanka: Lasith Malinga (capt), Tillakaratne Dilshan, Kusal Perera (wk), Kithuruwan Vithanage, Dananjaya de Silva, Angelo Mathews, Dasun Shanaka, Chamara Kapugedara, Shehan Jayasuriya, Thisara Perera, Jeffrey Vandersay, Nuwan Kulasekara, Binura Fernando, Chathuranga de Silva, Milinda Siriwardana.
Zimbabwe Cricket chairman Wilson Manase says Pakistan’s incoming tour will go ahead next month with a revised schedule.
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Pakistan was also under vast pressure as the outcome of the series would have affected the Greenshirt’s chances of participating in the ICC Champions Trophy to be held in England in 2017. For now, Pakistan has the eighth and final qualifying spot.
