PAKISTAN EAGERLY AWAIT FOR HOME SEASON TO BEGIN
The wait finally seems to be over for the Pakistan Team and their fans as bright forecast promises action to get underway in the second game of the three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka at the Karachi National Stadium today. The series has now virtually become a two-game affair, after the persistent rains had forced the first ODI to be called off on Friday, further prompting the second game to be pushed forward by a day.
Pakistan will aim to put forward a complete performance in front of the home crowd, who’ll be eager to witness a One Day International after more than four-years.
While the experience of seasoned campaigners like Skipper Sarfaraz Ahmed, Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman and fast bowlers Mohammad Amir and Wahab Riaz makes hosts appear as a superior side of the two, focus will also be on Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Rizwan and Mohammad Nawaz, who are making comebacks into the National Team. As for Sri Lanka, complete all-round performances helped them whitewash Bangladesh 3-0 at home but the absence of their senior players and their recent record against the hosts, wherein they’ve lost each of the last six completed games, means that an uphill task lies ahead.
Skipper Lahiru Thirimanne will look to inspire his team as a batsman and as a leader, to help his side register its first win against Pakistan after more than four years.
Sarfaraz Ahmed, Pakistan Captain said: “If you review the performance of the team during the past two and a half years, it has improved tremendously. Our cricket is improving and we are trying to go ahead with this team.”
Lahiru Thirimanne, Sri Lanka Captain said: “We have a lot of youngsters. Most of them are under 25, they have played a lot of domestic cricket and they have represented Sri Lanka earlier. We have a good chance if we play to our potential.”
Sunny intervals and moderate breeze is expected throughout the day, which suggest high possibility of a full 100-over contest.
(ICC)