Pakistan tour of Sri Lanka 2009

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Fixtures

[Sadaf Gondal]

Injured Muralitharan out of Pakistan Test
COLOMBO: Sri Lanka spin wizard Muttiah Muralitharan will miss what is expected to be an emotional return to test cricket against Pakistan this weekend, officials said Friday.

A knee injury has ruled 'Murali' out of Saturday's game at Sri Lanka's Galle International Stadium, the first Test between the two teams since a militant attack in Lahore, Pakistan, left eight people dead.

he two teams, however, recently contested the finals of the World Twenty20 in England. Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by eight wickets.

"Murali has picked up a knee injury and has been asked to rest for a while," team manager Brendon Kuruppu told foreign news agency.

His place in the first of the three tests will be taken by either orthodox left-arm spinner Rangana Herath or rookie slow bowler Suraj Randiv Kaluhalmulla, a Sri Lanka Cricket official said.

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Pak win toss, elect to field in Galle Test

GALLE: Pakistani skipper Younis Khan has won the toss and elected to field in the opening game of the three-Test series here at the Galle International Stadium on Saturday.

This will be the first Test series between the two teams after attack on Sri Lankan team in Lahore. Ace batsman made come back in the team that consolidates the middle order batting while Ajmal, Amir and Rauf are three debutants for Pakistan. This is the first Test Kumar Sangkkara will play as a captain.

Teams:

Sri Lanka: Malinda Warnapura, Tharanga Paranavitana, Kumar Sangakkara (capt), Mahela Jayawardene, Thilan Samaraweera, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Angelo Mathews, Nuwan Kulasekara, Thilan Thushara, Ajantha Mendis, Rangana Herath

Pakistan: Salman Butt, Khurram Manzoor, Younis Khan (capt), Mohammad Yousuf, Misbah-ul-Haq, Shoaib Malik, Kamran Akmal (wk), Saeed Ajmal, Umar Gul, Mohammad Aamer, Abdur Rauf.

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Debutant Aamer rocks Sri Lanka in first Test

GALLE: Pakistan''s teenaged fast bowler Mohammad Aamer grabbed two quick wickets before Sri Lanka recovered from a shaky start in the first cricket Test here Saturday.

The hosts went to lunch on the opening day at 104-3 after being sent in to bat by Pakistani captain Younus Khan on a wicket freshened up by early morning rain in this coastal town.

Sri Lanka slipped to 21-2 before Tharanga Paranavitana (57 not out) and Mahela Jayawardene (30) retrieved the situation by adding 75 for the third wicket.

The 17-year-old Aamer, who was one of Pakistan''s heroes in their triumphant World Twenty20 campaign in England last month, justified his Test debut at the expense of seasoned all-rounder Abdur Razzaq.

The left-armer struck with the last ball of his first over in Test cricket when he bowled opener Malinda Warnapura for two as the batsman was beaten by pace and chopped the ball on his off-stump.

Aamer then removed Sri Lankan captain Kumar Sangakkara in his third over, forcing the star batsman to edge a short ball to Shoaib Malik at third slip.

Aamer should have taken two more wickets but Malik dropped Paranavitana, then on four, and wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal let off Jayawardene before the batsman had scored a run.

Akmal made amends 90 minutes later when he snapped up Jayawardene off fast bowler Abdur Rauf, but not before the former Sri Lankan captain had partnered Paranavitana in the rescue act.

The three-match series is the first between the two nations since armed gunmen attacked the Sri Lankan team bus in the Pakistani city of Lahore on March 3 while on way to resume a Test match.

The attack injured seven Sri Lankan players and killed eight local security men.

The first Test began 13 days after Pakistan defeated Sri Lanka in the World Twenty20 final at Lord''s on June 21.

Pakistan opted for a lone specialist spinner in Saeed Ajmal, while veteran batsman Mohammad Yousuf returned to the Test side after 18 months, having broken links with the unauthorised Indian Cricket League.

Aamer was one of the three debutants for Pakistan alongside Ajmal and Rauf.

Sri Lanka brought in left-arm spinner Rangana Herath to partner Ajantha Mendis in the absence of world record holder Muttiah Muralitharan, who was ruled out with a knee injury.

[Sadaf Gondal]

Younis wishes to begin Test series with victory
GALLE: Younis Khan, the Pakistan captain, has expressed confidence in his batsmen's ability to tackle the wiles of spinner Ajantha Mendis in the three-Test series starting at Galle on Saturday, wishing to start Test match series with victory against Lankans.

Younis said his batsmen's familiarization with Mendis is only not because the two teams have played each other often in the past year or so, but also because Pakistanis are used to playing spin at home.

"We have a lot of offspinners, left-arm spinners and legspinners," Younis said. "The wickets are similar to Pakistan. Although there is more grip on the Sri Lankan pitches, all pitches are flat. Why Sri Lanka and Pakistan are meeting each other so often is because of their good relationship. Both teams know each other's weaknesses. Because of our nature we compete with each other very well."

Younis lamented the abrupt ending to the last Test series between the two countries in Pakistan early this year. "It was turning out to be a nice series at that time especially the first Test when Sri Lanka scored something like 600 and we scored 700. That was a crucial time for us. I was the new captain and we had introduced a couple of youngsters. There was no need for this kind of ending, especially that Lahore incident. We will start where we finished off in Lahore. It's good for both teams."

Younis said he would miss Muttiah Muralitharan who has been ruled out of the series with a leg injury. "The last series I played against Murali, I pulled my hamstring stretching all the way trying to play him for two days. He is a fantastic bowler. Whenever Murali is under pressure he talks to you. When I scored 300 in Karachi he talked to me all the time chatting and laughing. I will miss him."

Younis stated that he always wanted to be positive and would go to the Test with three fast bowlers. "For the spinners' place I have the option of playing either Shoaib Malik, Danish Kaneria or Saeed Ajmal."

"Pakistan has not been playing a lot of Test cricket in the last few years. It's a good chance if one team can hold its nerves and win. The last series was close when suddenly we took five wickets. This wicket looks a good track, harder than the one at Karachi. It depends on the first session. If you have a good start you have a good chance of winning. It depends on how the batsmen and bowlers react to the wicket. Its 50-50 for both teams."

[Sadaf Gondal]

SL194-5 at tea against Pakistan
GALLE: Pakistan's new-look bowling attack dealt regular blows to keep Sri Lanka on a tight leash on the opening day of the first cricket Test here on Saturday.

The hosts, who were 104-3 at lunch, went to tea at 194-5 after being sent in to bat by Pakistani captain Younus Khan on a wicket freshened up by early morning rain in this coastal town.

Teenage fast bowler Mohammmad Aamir and seamer Abdul Rauf, both making Test
debuts alongside off-spinner Saeed Ajmal, responded to their skipper's gamble in brilliant fashion.

Aamir claimed two wickets in his first three overs and Rauf chipped in with two more to leave the strong Sri Lankan batting tottering on the even-paced wicket at the Galle International Stadium.

Left-handed opener Tharanga Paranavitana was Sri Lanka's saviour with 72, adding 75 for the third wicket with Mahela Jayawardene (30) and 43 for the fourth with Thilan Samaraweera (31).

Tillakaratne Dilshan and debutant Angelo Mathews were together at tea, having put on 34 valuable runs for the unbroken sixth wicket.

The 17-year-old Aamer, who was one of Pakistan's heroes in their triumphant World Twenty20 campaign in England last month, justified his Test debut at the expense of seasoned all-rounder Abdur Razzaq.

The left-armer struck with the last ball of his first over in Test cricket when he bowled opener Malinda Warnapura for two as the batsman was beaten by pace and chopped the ball on his off-stump.

Aamer then removed Sri Lankan captain Kumar Sangakkara in his third over, forcing the star batsman to edge a short ball to Shoaib Malik at third slip.

Aamer should have had two more wickets but Malik dropped Paranavitana, then on four, and wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal let off Jayawardene before the batsman had scored a run.

Akmal made amends 90 minutes later when he snapped up Jayawardene off Rauf, but not before the former Sri Lankan captain had partnered Paranavitana in the rescue act.

[Sadaf Gondal]

Pakistan's young brigade rattles Sri Lanka
GALLE: Teenage fast bowler Mohammad Aamer led Pakistan's spirited new-look attack to bowl out Sri Lanka for 292 on the opening day of the first cricket Test here on Saturday.

Pakistan were 15-2 in reply at stumps with skipper Younis Khan on seven and nightwatchman Abdur Rauf yet to score after openers Salman Butt and Khurram Manzoor had fallen in the first four overs.

Butt was bowled by Nuwan Kulasekera off the second ball of the innings and Manzoor was trapped leg-before by Thilan Thushara to set up a thrilling contest ahead.

Aamer, a 17-year-old left-armer, grabbed three wickets and fellow debutant Rauf picked up two after Younis sent Sri Lanka in to bat on a wicket freshened up by early morning rain.

Younus himself took 2-23 while wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal claimed four catches and a stumping as Sri Lanka slipped to 194-6 before the lower order fought back.

Left-handed opener Tharanga Paranavitana was Sri Lanka's saviour with 72, adding 75 for the third wicket with Mahela Jayawardene (30) and 43 for the fourth with Thilan Samaraweera (31).

Sri Lanka's lone debutant, Angelo Mathews, boosted the tail with a sparkling 42 off 57 balls during a 47-run stand for the seventh wicket with Kulasekera, who made 38.

The three-match series is the first between the two nations since armed gunmen attacked the Sri Lankan team bus in the Pakistani city of Lahore on March 3 while the squad was en route to resume a Test match.

The attack injured seven Sri Lankan players and eight local security men were killed.

The match began less than a fortnight after Pakistan defeated Sri Lanka in the World Twenty20 final in England on June 21.

Aamer, one of Pakistan's heroes in the triumphant World Twenty20 campaign, justified his Test debut at the expense of seasoned all-rounder Abdur Razzaq.

The left-armer struck with the last ball of his first over in Test cricket when he bowled opener Malinda Warnapura for two as the batsman was beaten by pace and chopped the ball on his off-stump.

The hosts slipped to 21-2 as Aamer removed skipper Kumar Sangakkara in his third over, forcing the star batsman to edge a short ball to Shoaib Malik at third slip.

[LoViNg IrFaN]

Pakistani batting k start k barey main b likhna tha

[Sadaf Gondal]

woh abhi news nahi ayee
thee but dekha tha 15-2

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jitni achi bowling utni buri batting

[Sadaf Gondal]

One big partnership to strengthen our position: Younis
GALLE: The skipper Pakistan cricket team Younis Khan has said it was a difficult decision to bowl first after winning toss but our bowlers proved decision right.Talking to Geo news correspondent Nassem Rajput for program Captain’s Corner, Younis Khan said we need a big partnership to get back into the match.“If I, together with Abdul Rauf, succeeded to stay on the wicket for one hour so we will be in a good position”, he hoped.