Battered Sri Lanka seek victory in T20 (Preview)

Over the last six months or so, Sri Lanka as a team have taken a beating across two of the long formats in cricket, i.e., Tests and one-dayers. Three back to back series losses have put question marks over Tillakaratne Dilshan’s ability to lead the team. But, there is one format in which Sri Lanka surprisingly have remained undefeated during the same time period.

After the 2011 World Cup, Sri Lanka have played three T20s and won all of them. On the disastrous tour of England, the lone convincing victory came at Bristol and against Australia at home they pocketed the two match T20 series 2-0. Considering Sri Lanka’s dismal performances in recent past in the longer forms, one may argue that the side with T20 specialists like Lasith Malinga is itself becoming a T20 team, capable of competing only in the shortest format.

That apart, last game of the UAE tour being a twenty20 fixture provides Sri Lanka an opportunity to end the series on a high and get some confidence before they embark on another grueling overseas tour to South Africa. Pakistan got better of Sri Lanka in the Tests and the emphatic 4-1 score-line in the one-dayers on neutral territory is enough to suggest that Dilshan and Co. desperately need a morale boosting victory.

On the contrary, Pakistan after each game look an improved side. At the risk of stating the obvious, Pakistan have one of the best bowling attacks with lot of depth and variety. They have been winning Pakistan matches on a consistent basis but with Misbah taking charge of their batting, they are fast emerging as a well-oiled unit capable of beating any top flight side in world cricket.

All said and done, Pakistan are favourites to leave Abu Dhabi with all three trophies in their luggage but Sri Lanka would want their impressive run in T20s to continue.

Pakistan Squad: Misbah-ul-Haq (Capt), Shahid Afridi, Mohammad Hafeez, Imran Farhat, Younis Khan, Umar Akmal, Shoaib Malik, Sarfraz Ahmed (wk), Saeed Ajmal, Abdur Rehman, Umar Gul, Aizaz Cheema, Junaid Khan, Sohail Tanvir, Abdul Razzaq, Asad Shafiq

Sri Lanka Squad: Tillakaratne Dilshan (Capt), Upul Tharanga, Chamara Silva, Kumar Sangakkara (wk), Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal, Jeevan Mendis, Kosala Kulasekara, Lasith Malinga, Suranga Lakmal, Thisara Perera, Seekkuge Prasanna, Dimuth Karunaratne, Dilhara Fernando, Suraj Randiv