The focus will be on the returning Pakistani stars - the maverick pacer Shoaib Akhtar and former captain Shoaib Malik - when Shahid Afridi's men take on defending champions Sri Lanka in the opening match of the Asia Cup at the Rangiri Dambulla International Cricket Stadium on Tuesday.
Afridi's main task will be to keep the side united. The 35-year old Akhtar, who has been out of favour for a while, will be playing his first ODI in 13 months, while Malik, who was accused of fomenting divisions in the team, will be donning national colours for the first time following his marriage with Sania Mirza.
Pakistan, otherwise an unpredictable side, should be explosive on the field this time. Besides, they have a point or two to prove as their track record in Asia Cups is unsatisfactory.
In the last nine editions, Pakistan have won only once, that too way back in 2000 in Bangladesh when they beat Sri Lanka. Hosts Sri Lanka, meanwhile, have dropped Ajantha Mendis and the veteran Sanath Jayasuriya.
Ironically, both Jayasuriya (125 off 114 balls) and Mendis (6/13) played massive roles when they played and won the last Asia Cup final match against India in Karachi.
This time, Lakan skipper Kumar Sangakkara is hoping the replacements will be equally good in the team's quest for a fifth Asia Cup title. "We are at home and so we are expected to do well. We will try and show the best possible performances in the tournament," was what Sangakkara had to say on Monday.
The conditions are in favour of the Lankans, but SLC national curator Aniruddha Polonowita feels all teams will have to be tactically smart. "It's going to be a good batting track and will assist pacers who can move the ball," he said.
Source:- The Times Of India
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