Sri Lanka hope to avoid Pakistani backlash

Sri Lanka hope to avoid a Pakistani backlash in their first outing at Tangiers on Wednesday after Waqar Younis's side lost by 54 runs in the opening match of the Morocco Cup.

Pakistan will be desperate to comeback strongly after a disappointing performance, but Sri Lankan captain Sanath Jayasuriya is confident his side can make a victorious start to their campaign.

"Spirits are high, we know what we have to do and everyone is looking forward to the first game," said Jayasuriya, adding, "we have picked the best possible squad for this tournament and I believe it's a very good team.

"During the last two Sharjah tournaments we have been winning the group games and then losing in the final - we want to improve on that and perform consistently throughout this tournament."

Having seen how the pitch behaved on Monday, Jayasuriya has called for a special effort from his bowlers.

"The wicket was quite flat and there will be a lot of hard work for the bowlers," he said. "They are going to have bowl very straight like the South Africans did yesterday."

Sri Lanka are still to decide on their preferred bowling combination, but the absence of significant spin means that they are likely to play three frontline fast bowlers and medium pace all-rounder Hasantha Fernando ahead of leg-spinner Upul Chandana.

"The Pakistani batsmen are good players of spin and we have been discussing the best combination, looking at how many fast bowlers we need - the issue is who to play at the number seven position," said Jayasuriya.

Chaminda Vaas and Dilhara Fernando are certain to play, with Pulasthi Gunaratne, who impressed during the final ODI against Bangladesh, getting the nod for the final pace bowling berth.

Sri Lanka will also be looking ape South Africa's industrious and disciplined approach in the batting department, which proved more effective than Pakistan's more explosive style on a slow pitch.

"There is a lot of responsibility on the batsmen," said Jayasuriya. "If we get a chance to bat first, one of us has to get established and make a very good score like Herschelle Gibbs."

Marvan Atapattu and Sanath Jayasuriya will open the batting, with Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene and Russel Arnold in the middle order and veteran Aravinda de Silva at number six.

Match winner Muttiah Muralitharan will play despite only being 90% fit having strained a hamstring in Sri Lanka's first practice session after arrival.

After a disastrous tour of England, the mood within the Sri Lanka camp is increasingly upbeat with selection and injury problems fading into the background.

So far their greatest problem in Morocco has been their inability to communicate in French.

"We have never been in this part of the world and the players are enjoying the experience, but the French language has been a problem - it's making it very difficult to order our food!" joked Jayasuriya.

Pakistan, meanwhile, may consider changes to their bowling attack after off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq conceded 80 runs in his allotted ten overs.

Saqlain could make way for fast bowling all-rounder Azhar Mahmood, a swap that have the additional advantage of strengthening the batting order.

Sri Lanka: Sanath Jayasuriya (Capt), Marvan Atapattu, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jaywardene, Russel Arnold, Aravinda de Silva, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Upul Chandana, Hasantha Fernando, Chaminda Vaas, Chamila Lakshitha Gamage, Dilhara Fernando, Muttiah Muralitharan, Pulasthi Gunaratne, Charitha Buddika Fernando

Pakistan:

Waqar Younis (Capt), Inzamam-ul-Haq, Abdul Razzaq, Azhar Mahmood, Imran Nazir, Misbah-ul-Haq, Mohammad Sami, Rashid Latif, Saeed Anwar, Saqlain Mushtaq, Shahid Alfridi, Shoaib Malik, Wasim Akram, Younis Khan, Yousuf Youhana