LAHORE, May 16: Expecting batting tracks on the forthcoming tour to Sri Lanka, Pakistan’s head coach Dav Whatmore on Wednesday said his team would face a tough challenge from the Islanders on their home turf.

“Sri Lanka have always been strong opponents on their home soil. On our part, we are doing hard work to produce favourable results in the series, which we look forward to be very competitive,” Whatmore said while talking to reporters here at the Gaddafi Stadium where Pakistan squad began a short training camp on Wednesday, to prepare for the Sri Lanka tour. Pakistan are scheduled to play two Twenty20s, five ODIs and three Tests on the tour.

“We are anticipating batting-friendly wickets in Sri Lanka,” Whatmore added.

Training in Lahore’s testing weather, he insisted, would be beneficial for the players. “The practice session in Lahore’s hot and humid conditions would help the players get themselves ready to confront similar weather while on national duty in Sri Lanka,” he said.

To a query, the coach said that players’ fitness was being given primary importance at the camp.

“While maintaining an added emphasis on fitness, another fitness test [of the players] is going to be held on May 27 before we leave for Sri Lanka,” the coach stated. “Four weeks ago, a similar test had been conducted in which many of the selected players appeared.”

To yet another question about the formation of three separate teams announced for the Sri Lanka tour, Whatmore said it was the decision of the selectors, for which he had given his feedback.

The players were selected for different formats on the basis of their suitability for the formats, he added.

Whatmore declined to comment on the appointment of two captains on Sri Lanka series (Mohammad Hafeez for T20s and Misbah-ul-Haq for Tests and ODIs), saying it was not his but PCB’s domain.

Except for Younis Khan and the injured Nasir Jamshed, all remaining 24 players reported to the camp. Younis is expected to report on Thursday.

Meanwhile, Whatmore, who has remained part of the Indian Premier League (IPL) as coach of the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), expressed his regret over the recent news of spot-fixing scam in the ongoing edition of the league.