Sri Lanka eyeing one other shot at WTC remaining in Pakistan assessments

Sri Lanka was in competition for the World Test Championship remaining till March. That prospect has whetted its urge for food to get there within the new cycle.

The marketing campaign begins on Sunday, when Sri Lanka performs Pakistan in Galle within the first of two assessments.

“We had a pretty good campaign in the last World Test Championship and at one point we had a chance to make it to the finals,” Sri Lanka skipper Dimuth Karunaratne mentioned. “We would have liked to finish things off better but our last series in New Zealand didn’t go the way we want. But this is a new opportunity and we are looking forward for the challenge.” Left-arm fast Shaheen Afridi returns for Pakistan after a yr out of the take a look at aspect because of a knee damage, and the guests are pinning their hopes on him.

When these groups met on the similar floor final yr, Afridi claimed 4 wickets within the first innings however suffered a severe proper knee ligament damage whereas fielding within the second innings. He aggravated the damage months later on the T20 World Cup. Pakistan nonetheless received that first take a look at however misplaced the second. They are mirroring the identical sequence this yr.

“Very pleased with the return of Shaheen Afridi,” Pakistan skipper Babar Azam mentioned. “Besides his wicket-taking abilities, his presence always motivates and lifts the side. I know Shaheen has badly missed red-ball cricket and is hungry for test cricket.” Shaheen is on 99 take a look at wickets and set to change into the fourth quickest Pakistani fast to 100.

Sri Lanka will miss the companies of seam bowler Asitha Fernando, who’s recovering from dengue fever.

Kasun Rajitha and Vishwa Fernando are anticipated to share the brand new ball though they’ve within the squad uncapped left-arm fast Dilshan Madushanka, who was extremely spectacular throughout the Asia Cup final yr when his wickets included Virat Kohli.

Sri Lanka’s key weapon shall be left-arm spinner Prabath Jayasuriya, who has an enviable report in Galle of 46 wickets from 5 assessments together with six five-wicket hauls.

Both groups have settled sides with Pakistan carrying 13 gamers within the squad who had been in Sri Lanka 12 months in the past.

The vacationers may even be hoping for an uptick in fortune throughout the sequence. Since the start of 2022, Pakistan has received solely certainly one of 10 assessments. Even so, it’s sixth on the planet rating, one place greater than Sri Lanka.