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| March 17, 2006 | Friday | Safar 16, 1427 |
Depleted Sri Lanka face tough task against Pakistan
COLOMBO, March 16: Injury-hit Sri Lanka have the tough task of trying to blank Pakistan in the three-match one-day home series starting on Friday. Former world champions Sri Lanka need to win all three matches to ensure a direct entry in the ICC Champions Trophy tournament in India later this year.
But with former captain Sanath Jayasuriya, veteran seamer Chaminda Vaas and emerging fast bowler Ruchira Perera on the injury list, their chances of avoiding the qualifiers looks difficult.
Although a 2-1 verdict could also make them one of the six teams gaining a direct entry, the results of the upcoming India-England series would then come into consideration as the cut-off date is April 1.
The home side are currently ranked seventh in the ICC ratings, just one point below England.
“We are aware of what is needed but we were second in the rankings not too long ago. A poor series in India has cost us a lot,” said captain Marvan Atapattu about their 6-1 defeat in India last year.
“It is a big series and to lose our two main players is something that’s very hard to bear. But I am sure the guys who take their places will give their 100 per cent,” Atapattu added.
“Friday’s first match is the start of the final battle among sides to avoid playing in the preliminary round of the ICC Champions Trophy, later this year in India,” the ICC said in a statement.
Sides in positions seven to 10 on the ICC limited-overs championship table on April 1 will face the risk of playing in the qualification rounds. The other countries are the West Indies, Zimbabwe and Bangladesh.
Sri Lanka can overtake sixth-placed England with a 2-1 series win over Pakistan but even then they could still slip back to seventh spot if England wins at least one of they two matches against India that take place before the April cut-off date.
A 3-0 series win for Sri Lanka will guarantee it a top six place but would also bring Pakistan into the equation as they could find themselves in the seventh slot if England win one of those two clashes against India.
“If Pakistan beat their hosts 2-1 then Sri Lanka will drop to 106 rating points and will need to rely on India winning both the matches against England to jump back to sixth spot,” the ICC statement said.
“And in a further potential scenario, a 3-0 win for Pakistan will condemn Sri Lanka to the preliminary round no matter what happens in the India England matches,” said the statement.
With the injuries to opener Jayasuriya (thigh) and left-armers Vaas (side strain) and Perera (hamstring), batsman Jehan Mubarak and pacemen Lasith Malinga and Dammika Prasad have been named as replacements.
Sri Lanka and Pakistan have also mutually agreed to scrap the super-sub rule for the series. They will name super-subs but won’t use them as the ICC has decided to do away with the rule after March 21.
“The one-day game requires quick decisions and when the super-sub comes into play it’s yet another headache for the captain. On a personal note I prefer if we don’t have the rule,” Atapattu said.
Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer said he wasn’t in favour of the rule.
“The rule obviously favours the side that wins the toss and therefore it’s wrong,” said Woolmer.
“A lot of captains who have played the game for many years like New Zealand’s Stephen Fleming and Australian Ricky Ponting like 11 players and so do we.”
Pakistan lost a recent one-day series at home to India by a 4-1 margin but Woolmer said he expected his team to be on top form.
“The one-day defeats against India were disappointing but our final goal is the 2007 World Cup. We have identified what went wrong and I am sure the boys have learned from them,” Woolmer added.
Teams (from):
SRI LANKA: Marvan Atapattu (captain), Mahela Jayawardene, Jehan Mubarak, Upul Tharanga, Kumar Sangakkara, Tillekeratne Dilshan, Russel Arnold, Chamara Kapugedera, Farveez Maharoof, Malinga Bandara, Muttiah Muralitharan, Nuwan Kulasekara, Kaushal Lokuarachchi, Lasith Malinga, Dammika Prasad.
PAKISTAN: Inzamamul Haq (captain), Younis Khan, Mohammad Yousuf, Abdul Razzaq, Shahid Afridi, Shoaib Malik, Kamran Akmal, Salman Butt, Danish Kaneria, Rana Navedul Hasan, Imran Farhat, Faisal Iqbal, Umar Gul, Mohammad Asif, Abdur Rehman, Tahir Khan.
Umpires: Asoka de Silva (Sri Lanka) and Steve Davis (Australia).
Third umpire: Tyrone Wijewardene (Sri Lanka).
Match referee: Alan Hurst (Australia).—Agencies
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