Pakistan tour of Sri Lanka 2009

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Fixtures

[Sadaf Gondal]

LAHORE: Pakistan cricket left for Sri Lanka on Saturday to play Test and one day series against Sri Lanka.

Talking to media at Lahore International Airport, cricket team coach Intikhab Alam said batsmen should perform well to get better results. Fitness of players will play key role in the series, as the weather in Sri Lanka will be hot which makes playing conditions difficult.

Replying to question about Shoaib Akhter, Intikhab said Shoaib should focus on his fitness if he wants to join national team.

Wicketkeeper batsman Kamran Akmal at this occasion said cricket fans would get quality cricket because both teams have world-class players.

Abdul Razzaq termed Pakistan as favorite for the series and vowed that he will contribute for team.

Nine players left for Sri Lanka today. Captain Younis Khan, Umer Gul, Fawwad Alam, Khurram Manzoor, Faisal Iqbal will leave from Karachi whereas Danesh Kaneria will join the team from London.

Pakistan team will play three Test matches, five one-days and one Twenty20 match during the tour.

[Sadaf Gondal]

LAHORE: Pakistan coach Intikhab Alam said his players' fitness will be the key on their tour of Sri Lanka as the 15-man Pakistan team set off on Saturday.

Intikhab Alam, who led the team to the World Twenty20 title in England last week, warned that the biggest problem for the tourists will be the hot climate.

"Fitness is very important on the tough and long tour of Sri Lanka," said Alam before heading for Dubai and then Colombo.

The tour comprises three Tests followed by five one-day matches and a Twenty20 international.

The first Test starts in Galle on July 4 but Pakistan open the tour with a three-day match against a Sri Lanka Cricket XI in Colombo from Monday.

"Sri Lanka will be hot and in such a climate your fitness is tested, so we have (put a stress) on fitness, which will play an important role," said the former leg-spinner and Pakistan captain.

He said the series would be interesting as both teams have talent.

"Sri Lanka have quality spinners in (Muttiah) Muralitharan and (Ajantha) Mendis but our batting is good and I hope it will be up to the challenge of playing in the heat and against two world-class spinners," he said.

Pakistan have been boosted by the return of star batsman Mohammad Yousuf, who broke his ties with the unrecognised Indian Cricket League (ICL), clearing the way for his return to the international fold.

The 34-year-old, who scored a world record 1,788 runs in 2006 -- the most in a calendar year -- joined the rebel league in protest over his removal from the national team for the first World Twenty20 two years ago.

"I want to give a performance which cap my return to international cricket in a memorable manner," said Yousuf, whose last Test was in Bangalore in December 2007.

"It will be tough because when you play international cricket after a big gap its difficult, but I will do my best to play my part in the team's win against Sri Lanka, who are a very tough team on their home grounds."

All-rounder Abdul Razzaq, who broke his ties with the ICL earlier this month, also makes a return and would be a certainty for the Tests as third seamer.

Squad: Younus Khan (captain), Misbah-ul-Haq (vice captain), Salman Butt, Khurrum Manzoor, Shoaib Malik, Mohammad Yousuf, Kamran Akmal, Abdul Razzaq, Fawad Alam, Umar Gul, Faisal Iqbal, Mohammad Aamir, Danish Kaneria, Saeed Ajmal, Abdul Rauf. Coach: Intikhab Alam.

[Sadaf Gondal]

KARACHI: Umar Gul narrowly missed clinching the player of the series award in the ICC World Twenty20 after playing a key role in Pakistan’s title-winning triumph in the 12-nation spectacle in England earlier this month.

But that hasn’t dented the lanky pacer’s morale as Gul is now looking forward to wrapping up that honour during this summer’s demanding tour of Sri Lanka.

“I feel really confident because of my current form and fitness,” Gul said at the Karachi airport on Saturday just before leaving for Colombo. “It is because of that I’m targeting the man of the series award in Sri Lanka where I’ll give my 110 percent for Pakistan.”

Gul, 25, was by far the most successful bowler in the 2009 World Twenty20, picking up 13 wickets at an average of 12.15 and a economy rate of 6.44. He finished with world record figures of 5-6 in a Super Eights match against New Zealand and also became the first bowler to take 25 or more wickets in Twenty-20 World Cup matches. He now leads the list with a grand haul of 37 wickets from 21 T20 games.

But Gul made it clear that his performance in England will matter for little in Sri Lanka, where difficult playing conditions and a different format awaits Pakistan.

“Things will be entirely different in Sri Lanka,” said Gul. “The weather will be different and so will be the format,” he added referring to the hot and humid conditions in Sri Lanka where Pakistan will begin the tour with a three-match Test series.

Gul said that the team will adapt to the challenging playing conditions by taking part in a three-day warm-up game starting in Colombo from Monday (tomorrow).

“The warm-up game would be very important for us because will we be aiming to switch to the longer version of the game and to acclimatise to the weather conditions.”

Gul may have just played 18 Tests but he would be spearheading the Pakistani attack in Sri Lanka where they will also play five One-day Internationals and a Twenty20 game during the 45-day tour that concludes on August 12 He termed it as a great responsibility.

“To be leading the team’s attack is a huge responsibility,” stressed Gul who has taken 76 Test wickets. “But I’m mentally and physically prepared for it and will try to perform that role in the best possible manner.”

Pakistan’s bowling attack will include comeback all-rounder Abdul Razzaq, youngster Mohammad Aamer, Abdul Rauf and spinners Danish Kaneria and Saeed Ajmal.

Gul believes that Pakistan’s World Twenty20 victory has raised expectations back home which is he and his team-mates will have to come out with their very best to ensure that they don’t disappoint fans.

“We will have to play like world champions in Sri Lanka because expectations at home are very high,” he said.

Gul said that he was moved by the way Pakistani nation has showered the team with praise and rewards but urged the fans to also support the cricketers in troubled times. “It is always great to have the fans behind you especially in defeat.”

The pacer welcomed the return of the team’s premier batsman Mohammad Yousuf, saying that his comeback will improve Pakistan’s chances in the series.

“Yousuf is world class batsman and we are all very happy that he is back.” Yousuf was recalled to the Pakistan squad after he broke ties with the rebel Indian Cricket League (ICL) earlier this summer.

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Pakistan players escorted military security in Lanka


COLOMBO: The Sri Lankan Cricket (SP) has hired services of security forces including military security for safeguarding Pakistan cricket players during their tour to Sri Lanka, board sources said.

As many as 100 security men will be deployed for the Pakistan team security, said spokesman Sri Lanka cricket team Charith Senanayake.

He said the best ever security arrangements have been set up for Pakistan cricket team while Sri Lanka cricket will do its best to make Pakistan players pleased.

There will be seven security vehicles, which will keep Pakistan team escorted during their journey from hotel to stadium, he added.

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Lanka military security for Pak players

COLOMBO: The Sri Lankan Cricket (SC) has hired services of security forces including military security for safeguarding Pakistan cricket players during their tour to Sri Lanka, board sources said.

As many as 100 security men will be deployed for the Pakistan team security, said spokesman Sri Lanka cricket team Charith Senanayake.

He said the best ever security arrangements have been set up for Pakistan cricket team while Sri Lanka cricket will do its best to make Pakistan players pleased.

There will be seven security vehicles, which will keep Pakistan team escorted during their journey from hotel to stadium, he added.

[Sadaf Gondal]

Umar Gul... ‘I feel really confident because of my current form and fitness’
KARACHI: Less than a week after lifting the World Twenty20 trophy at Lord’s, Pakistan’s cricketers flew out to Sri Lanka on Saturday still hungry for more glory.

Pakistan coach Intikhab Alam was confident that his charges will give their best during the 45-day tour but made it clear that fitness will be the key to their success in Sri Lanka where they will play three Tests, five One-day Internationals and a Twenty20 game.

“Playing a Test series in Sri Lanka is always very challenging because of the hot and humid weather,” he said. “That is why fitness would be of utmost importance. But I’m pretty confident because my players are fully committed and motivated,” he stressed before his departure for Colombo from Lahore.

The players left in two different batches from Karachi and Lahore. Skipper Younis Khan left from Karachi along with Umar Gul, Fawad Alam, Faisal Iqbal and Khurram Manzoor while nine other players flew out of Lahore on Saturday. Leg-spinner Danish Kaneria, returning to the Pakistan squad for the first time since the 2007 Test against India in Bangalore, will join the team in Colombo from England where he has been playing county cricket.

Pakistan will open the tour with a three-day practice match against a Sri Lanka Cricket XI in Colombo from Monday (tomorrow). The first Test starts in Galle on July.

Intikhab is looking forward to an interesting series.

“Sri Lanka have quality spinners in (Muttiah) Muralitharan and (Ajantha) Mendis but our batting is good and I hope it will be up to the challenge of playing in the heat and against two world-class spinners,” he said.

Pakistan’s batting line-up has received a shot in the arm with the comeback of premier batsman Mohammad Yousuf, who broke his ties with the rebel Indian Cricket League (ICL) and was subsequently recalled in the touring party.

Yousuf, 34, said that he is eyeing a successful return to international cricket.

“I want to make my international comeback a memorable one,” said Yousuf, whose last Test was in Bangalore in December 2007.

“It will not be easy because when you play international cricket after a big gap it’s always tough, but I will do my best to perform my role in the team’s win against Sri Lanka, who are a very tough team on their home grounds.”

Also back in the Test is senior all-rounder Abdul Razzaq, who played a key role in Pakistan’s World Twenty20 campaign.

Razzaq was confident that Pakistan will do well in Sri Lanka. “The way our team is playing I believe we will be favourites to win the series.”

Pakistan squad: Younis Khan (captain), Misbah-ul-Haq (vice captain), Salman Butt, Khurrum Manzoor, Shoaib Malik, Mohammad Yousuf, Kamran Akmal, Abdul Razzaq, Fawad Alam, Umar Gul, Faisal Iqbal, Mohammad Aamir, Danish Kaneria, Saeed Ajmal, Abdul Rauf. Coach: Intikhab Alam.

[Sadaf Gondal]

KARACHI: Middle-order batsman Faisal Iqbal has vowed to make the most of yet another comeback in international cricket by giving his best on the tour of Sri Lanka.

Faisal, who was recalled for the series against Sri Lanka, said that he will use his experience of playing in Sri Lankan conditions in a bid to play a key role in Pakistan’s campaign during the three-match Test series getting underway from July 4.

“I played in Sri Lanka on the tour of 2006 and have a fair knowledge of the conditions there,” Faisal said on Saturday before his departure for Sri Lanka.

Faisal, Khurram hope to do well in SL series
“The team will play there as the new world (Twenty20) champions so the pressure will be there but I’m sure the boys are ready for it.”

Opener Khurram Manzoor also sounded confident, saying that he is ready to give his best against Sri lanka. “I’ve prepared hard for this tour. I’m fully fit and in good form and hope to give my best in the series,” said the youngster.

[Sadaf Gondal]

Captains Kumar Sangakkara and Younis Khan pose with the trophy at a press conference before the series, Colombo, June 29, 2009

[Sadaf Gondal]

SLC XI make 278-3 against Pakistan
COLOMBO: Pakistan cricket team began its preparations for series against Sri Lanka on Monday by starting a three-day warm-up match against a Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) XI here at the Colts Cricket Club ground.

On the first day, SLC XI won the toss and batting first made 278 runs for the loss of three wickets.

Lahiru Thirimanne scored 116 while Chamara Kapugedera was unbeaten on 90. Opener Upul Tharanga made 50.

Pakistan skipper Younis Khan tried seven bowlers and in 66 overs bowled on first day, only Danish Kaneria, Fawad Alam and Abdul Rauf could claim one wicket each.