Pakistan look to add to Sri Lanka's woes

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Cricket365
November 25, 2011

Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq hopes his team can improve their record in the shortest form of the game with a win over Sri Lanka in a one-off Twenty20 on Friday.

Pakistan, the 2009 World Twenty20 champions, have lost 13 of their last 24 matches in the rapid-fire form of the game which has seen them plunge to seventh in the inaugural Twenty20 rankings which were released last month.

But Misbah it confident his team will continue to improve after beating Sri Lanka one-nil in three Tests and four-one in the five-match one-day series.

"It was an outstanding performance by the team," said Mishab after his team's narrow three-wicket win in the fifth ODI at Abu Dhabi on Wednesday. "I am confident that we will do our best in the Twenty20 to improve our ranking."

Misbah, who has now won nine of the 10 one-day internationals played since he took over as limited over captain in June this year, said the team's goal was to improve with every match.

"It is good to beat a top ranked side 4-1 and I am very happy because my team is improving and performing so well. The goal is to improve day by day and we want to extend the victory sequence," he explained.

The victory lifted Pakistan to fifth in ICC one-day rankings.

Sri Lanka, relegated to fourth from second in the one-day rankings, are placed second in Twenty20 rankings and their captain Tillakaratne Dilshan is hoping his batsmen lift themselves after failing to impress during the whole tour.

"It's disappointing to lose the one-day series and we need to quickly address our batting problems before our tour of South Africa," said Dilshan of his team's tour to the tip of Africa next month, where they play three Tests and five one-day internationals.

"It will be a new game on Friday and a change of format, so I hope the players lift themselves."

Dilshan praised Pakistan team as "one of the best in the world".

"Pakistan have more options than us and the way they played on this tour to me they are one of the top teams in the world," said Dilshan, who has lost three Tests and three one-day series since taking over in May this year.

Squads:

Pakistan (from): Misbah-ul-Haq (capt), Shahid Afridi, Mohammad Hafeez, Imran Farhat, Younis Khan, Umar Akmal, Shoaib Malik, Sarfraz Ahmed, Saeed Ajmal, Abdul Rehman, Umar Gul, Aizaz Cheema, Sohail Tanvir, Asad Shafiq.

Sri Lanka (from): Tillakaratne Dilshan (capt), Angelo Mathews, Upul Tharanga, Kumar Sangakkara, Dinesh Chandimal, Kushal Janith Perera, Thisara Perera, Ajantha Mendis, Dilruwan Perera, Lasith Malinga, Dilhara Fernando, Kosala Kulasekera, Charmara Silva, Dimuth Karunaratne.

Umpires: Zameer Haider (PAK) and Ahsan Raza (PAK) Tv umpire: Shozaib Raza (PAK) Match referee: Andy Pycroft (ZIM)