Dambulla, July 30: Bolstered by the return of Muttiah Muralitharan and Lasith Malinga, Sri Lanka were sent in to bat on a green-tinged pitch in Dambulla.
Younis Khan’s decision to unleash his bowlers had much to do with history – teams batting first have seldom done well at the venue – but there was also a few surprises in the team selection, with neither Nasir Jamshed or Imran Nazir picked to open.
There was, however, a one-day debut for the promising Mohammad Aamer, while Sri Lanka went back to Sanath Jayasuriya and Upul Tharanga, who had played no part in the Test series.
Perhaps the most significant selection for Pakistan though was Abdul Razzaq, who last played two years ago before his involvement in the Indian Cricket League halted his career. The venue, up in the cultural triangle, was buffeted by strong winds and in conditions that promised to assist the bowlers, Razzaq and his less experienced colleagues had every chance to make an early statement of intent.
Sri Lanka: Upul Tharanga, Sanath Jayasuriya, Kumar Sangakkara (capt), Mahela Jayawardene, Thilan Samaraweera, Chamara Kapugedera, Angelo Mathews, Thilan Thushara, Nuwan Kulasekara, Lasith Malinga, Muttiah Muralitharan.
—-Agencies