GALLE: Sri Lanka’s coach Marvan Atapattu has said Pakistan will miss spin spearhead Saeed Ajmal in the series.

The first Test between the two sides will start on Wednesday. The second Test will be played at the P. Sara Oval in Colombo from June 25 and the third in Pallekele from July 3.

The Tests will be followed by five One-day Internationals and two Twenty20 matches.

Ajmal has not been selected for the tour after struggling with a remodelled bowling action on the Bangladesh tour last month.

“Ajmal at his peak gave a lot of batsmen sleepless nights,” Atapattu told the Colombo-based Nation newspaper.

“Now that he is not there gives us a psychological advantage.

“I believe Pakistan have got bowlers who could win games, but they have not done it yet. But we’ve still got to respect the good ball and put away the bad ones.”

Pakistan captain Misbah-ul Haq said, “It is always interesting to play Sri Lanka because both sides know each other’s game well,” said Misbah.

“Pakistan has done well in Tests recently and that has given us a lot of confidence.”

Published in Dawn, June 16th, 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play