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1st T20: Pakistan vs Sri Lanka — As it happened

Dawn Sport Published July 30, 2015
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Sri Lanka will look to prevent a clean sweep by Pakistan on the current tour when they clash in two Twenty20 Internationals in Colombo on Thursday and Saturday.

Pakistan won the preceding Test series 2-1 and also clinched the one-dayers 3-2 to earn a double triumph in the island nation for the first time since 2006.

But Sri Lanka, the reigning World T20 champions and the top-ranked side in the shortest format, get a chance to salvage pride in the two end-of-tour games at the Premadasa stadium.

Both sides wear a fresh look under new captains, with Shahid Afridi taking over for Pakistan, which is ranked fifth, and Lasith Malinga leading Sri Lanka.

Top reads:

Sri Lanka bank on new boys De Silva, Jayasuria to tackle Pakistan | A matter of stats: Pakistan’s triumph over Sri Lanka cannot be discounted | Comment: Selectors fail to show muscle over T20 squad

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Adeel
Jul 30, 2015 06:17pm
oh sarfaraz...you couldnt butter Uncle Afridi enough!!
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salim
Jul 30, 2015 06:22pm
What is sarfaraz supposed to do to retain his place in the side........Rediculous selection of umer akmal
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Adnan Jidaker
Jul 30, 2015 06:22pm
Without bowling, Hafeez is burden in T20 Squad. Exclusion of Sarfraz indicates, Afridi against start playing dirty games.
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fakhar waleed
Jul 30, 2015 06:24pm
Sir faraz should be the part of the team if merit is concerned.
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salim
Jul 30, 2015 06:25pm
What is sarfaraz supposed to do to retain his place in the side. ......... ridiculous decision to drop him
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salman khan
Jul 30, 2015 06:33pm
he is dropped bcoz we have two keepers in team and we needed an allrounder..................
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Adeel
Jul 30, 2015 06:36pm
and not long ago...sarfaraz was picked as a ODI and T20I v.captain! so much for that...
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usman
Jul 30, 2015 06:38pm
why sarfaraz is dropped??????????
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Mumtaz
Jul 30, 2015 06:52pm
Exclusion of Sarfraz is absolutely ridiculous. It shows that there is politics going on in the team
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irfan
Jul 30, 2015 07:30pm
Adeel you are right
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pakxpert
Jul 30, 2015 07:40pm
What a joke..The 'master blaster' Mukhtar Ahmed... He and master blasters... Dont insult the word..
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Ehsaan
Jul 30, 2015 07:43pm
Umar Akmal??? Really!!! Couldn't find ANYONE better??? Look at what he is doing! Does that not explain how incompetent he is?
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Sam
Jul 30, 2015 07:44pm
Sad to see Akmal play while Sarfarz sit out - Afridi thank you for bringing back controversy - we are really getting tired now.
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abdul rahim
Jul 30, 2015 08:01pm
@salman khan ,and sarfraz is.keeper n batsman ( all rounder), fits in any position .and rizwan too is keeper and batsman ( late order).this is the difference between the two. Now the choice is yours.
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Osama Shafeeqe
Jul 30, 2015 08:17pm
This is why Umar Akmal is in the team! 46 off 24 and there are still going to be people doubting why he is in the team.
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Zahid Khan
Jul 30, 2015 08:18pm
Afridi should retire from cricket... Sad Sarfarz wan't part of the squad.
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Fi
Jul 30, 2015 08:46pm
Good going Pakistan. 23/3
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Fi
Jul 30, 2015 10:01pm
Well done Pakistan! Congrats. Good start of T20 matches. Afridi needs to sort out his batting although a win is going to mask the fact. Shoaib was impressive with Saania in the crowd. May be she should visit the ground more often when hubby is in the team.
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Asif
Jul 30, 2015 10:04pm
Why Sarfraz Ahmed not in the team today? I'm shocked; dirty cricket politics in the team management.
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Ali Aslam
Jul 30, 2015 10:04pm
Congratulation Pakistani Heroes...
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Oh God
Jul 30, 2015 10:04pm
Winning and losing always show character of players and teams. This win was marred by silly attitude of Shoaib Malik's fielding and some indifference shown in last over. This is utter nonsense. Shoaib does not deserve to play the next game.
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Shahin A. Hossain
Jul 30, 2015 10:27pm
One tour, three captains and on the road to win three trophies... This is motivated Pakistan... When Riaz , a amir will join , this team will be invincible ... Congrats Green Shirts....Akmal, Malik and Shehzad were awesome... Tanvir you beauty....
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Awan
Jul 30, 2015 10:30pm
@salim Umer Akmal played very well. He had made 46. His strike rate was better than Sarfaraz this time. So rotation of star players in the team is absolutely alright. In this manner you do not have to depend on one player to perform. The team chemistry among themselves should be better as well. Moreover Shoaib Malik proved his selection as well. Only some biased people could not assess the performance otherwise they are proving their selection as the good decision.
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Shahin A. Hossain
Jul 30, 2015 10:48pm
In 2015 Malik is rocking.. His average is 94 ! And also bowling nicely.. Today in a over took one important wicket.. U Akmal is a talent. Pls don't criticise blindly. He us an asset .. The six he hit today shows his class.. Sarfaraz is good but not as talented and attacking as Akmal. 46 out of 24 is rare in Pakistan... Hafiz is a class , his presence changes the atmosphere... Don't be ridiculous.. Be objective and trust your captain as captain knows better what to do and not to do...
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saje
Jul 31, 2015 10:53am
@Shahin A. Hossain "Sarfaraz is good but not as talented and attacking as Akmal" Sarafaraz's comparison should be made with Rizwan, the wicket keeper, instead of any batsman. Sarfaraz has proven his worth both as batsman and the keeper. So there was no need to do experimentation with another keeper-cum-batsman.
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