Pakistan face Sri Lanka in Asian Test Championship (4 March 1999)

4 March 1999

Pakistan face Sri Lanka in Asian Test Championship

Ilyas Beg

LAHORE, March 3: A strong Pakistan team, even without seasoned players Salim Malik, Waqar Younis, Mushtaq Ahmad and Ijaz Ahmad, will start as favourites against the young Sri Lanka side in a five-day game of the Asian Test Championship which begins on Thursday here at the Gaddafi Stadium pitch, having little grass on it.

The host side has experienced cricketers, who are in nick after registering a hard-earned win against India inthe inaugural Test of the championship at Calcutta and a sojourn of the neighbouring country in which it played two back-to-back Test.

On the other hand, the Sri Lanka side has been depleted due to injuries to its stalwarts like Sanath Jayasuria, Mutiah Muralitharan, Arjuna Ranatunga, Arvinda de Silva and Chaminda Vaas.

However, no one should completely rule out out chances of the youthful visiting side in tomorrow Test as the youngsters included in the team have been knocking out at the doors of international cricket.

The Test begins at 10 am. On each day, a minimum of 83 overs are to be bowled. The Test will be telecast live and Radio Pakistan will relay ball-by-ball commentary.

The Managements of both the teams have announced to finalise their playing elevens before the start of the Test afterhaving a final look at the pitch.

The two teams did physical exercises and net practice at the Gaddafi Stadium from 9 am to 1:30 pm. Shoaib Akhtar was wearing neck-brace as he is having problem of a stiff-neck. However, he cannot be ruled out of the Test.

The Pakistan team looks strong in pace bowling even if Shoaib Akhtar had to sit out due to his fitness because it will be spearheaded by the redoubtable Wasim Akram. Azhar Mahmood and either Shahid Nazir or Fazle Akbar can be included as the third seamer.Saqlain Mushtaq and Shahid Afridi are two good spinners in the Pakistan side.

If it clicks, the Pakistan batting can put a big total as it has Saeed Anwar, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Yousuf Youhana, Moin Khan, Wasim Akram, Azhar Mahmood, Muhammad Wasim and Shahid Afridi. The team management can include young Imran Nazir or Wajahatullah Wasti as a batsman if they decide to send Shahid Afridi lower in the batting order.

Vice-captain Mahel Jayawardena hit a brilliant double century in the recently-concluded Test against India. Hashan Tillakaratne, Marvan Atapattu, Romesh Kaluwitharana, Chandika Hathurusinghe and Upal Chandana are good batsmen.

The team will be served well by talented left-arm paceman Sajeewa de Silva. Sri Lanka has always produced class spinners and that makes the Sri Lanka an all-round side.

AFP ADDS: Pakistan earned 17 points after they beat India by 46 runs in the opener of the first three-nation championship in Calcutta last month.

The second Asian Test between India and Sri Lanka was resultless in Colombo last week, giving Pakistan an entry in the final even before they take on the islanders.

The final will be played from March 12 to 16 in Dhaka.

A relieved Wasim said he will not take the Sri Lankans as easy bait.

"We will play a proper balanced team with five bowlers and I am confident that we will not only win this Test but the final also," said Wasim, who led Pakistan to a 1-1 series draw against India last month.

Imran Nazir, an 18-year-old opener is set to make his Test debut. "In this age Imran looks very impressive and his bonus point is his fielding," Wasim said.

Nazir was prolific in the Under-19 junior series against South Africa last month.

Sri Lanka, who will defend their World Cup title in England two months later, need at least seven points to upstage India from this inaugural continental Test Championship.

"We may be without our key players but I am confident that with this young side we will earn the needed points to reach the final," Sri Lankan makeshift captain Hashan Tillekeratne said.

The islanders' cricket is on a downspin after they lost dashing opener Sanath Jayasuriya and off-spinner Muthiah Muralitharan during the tri-nation one-day tournament in Australia early this year.

Pay cuts from the Board after a lacklustre performance in Australia and further injury to key players plunged Sri Lanka into more trouble.

"We have a young side here but if they get their act together they can win a place in the final. Beating Pakistan in Pakistan is, I know, very difficult," Sri Lankan manager Ranjeet Fernando said.

The teams will announce their final line-up on the morning of the match.

"There are two strips and both look like batting strips but we will play with two seamers and two spinners," the Sri Lankan manager said.

Pakistan: Wasim Akram (captain), Moin Khan (vice-captain), Saeed Anwar, Wajahatullah Wasti, Imran Nazir, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Azhar Mahmood, Yousuf Youhana, Shahid Afridi, Shoaib Akhtar, Arshad Khan, Muhammad Wasim, Fazle Akbar, Saqlain Mushtaq, Shahid Nazir.

Sri Lanka: Hashan Tillakratne (captain), Mahela Jayawardena (vice-captain),Romesh Kaluwitharana (wicketkeeper),Russel Arnold, Avishka Gunawardana, Pramodaya Wickremaseinghe, Marvan Atapattu, Ruchira Perera, Suresh Perera, Chandika Hathurusinghe, Ruwan Kalpage, Niroshan Bandaratillaka, Sajeeva de Silva, Upul Chandana.

Umpires: Rudi Koertzen (South Africa), David Shepherd (England).
TV umpire: Sirinivasan Venkataraghavan (India).
Match Referee: Cammie Smith (West Indies).

Source :: Dawn (https://dawn.com/)