It is not just the alien conditions of Australia, England or South Africa which has been a cause of concern for Pakistan in recent years, with the similar sub-continent conditions of Sri Lanka proving their undoing in Testmatches in recent history.
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The Islanders have been a major headache for Pakistan, having thrashed them in three successive series on home soil. Prior to 2009, Pakistan were unbeaten against Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka, with three series wins and two draws.
At that point, the tables turned, Sri Lanka winning 2-0 in 2009 and securing a 1-0 triumph in the three-match seriesthree years later.
A 3-3 draw and 2-0 series win followed for Sri Lanka in 2014 and Pakistan most certainly go into the three-match Test series starting from June 17 as the ‘underdogs’.
Pakistan has lost all of its last 3 ODI & Test Series in Sri Lanka! #slvpak
— waQas ali khaMosh (@wAk_sports) June 16, 2015
Despite this blip, there are positives for Pakistan as their opponents look much weaker for the retirements of Mahela Jayawardena and Tillakaratne Dilshan.
Former Pakistan Test cricketer Basit Ali feels that there absences can help Pakistan.
“It’s true that Sri Lanka hasn’t been a happy hunting ground for Pakistan in recent years but I believe we’ve a good chance against our opponents as they don’t have Jayawardena and Dilshan in their lineup,” Basit told Sport360.
“Jayawardena will be a big miss because, along with Sangakkara, he stabilised the middle-order. Similarly, attacking Dilshan is retired from Tests so Pakistan do have a good chance to take revenge but it won’t be easy.”
Sri Lanka’s net session ahead of tomorrow’s 1st test against Pakistan #SLvPAK pic.twitter.com/EUbtQIyzBs
— Iranda Tharaka (@Irandatharaka) June 16, 2015
Jayawardena is a living legend in every sense, but he has been surpassed by teammate Sangakkara when it comes to the rivalry with Pakistan.
Sangakkara is the leading run-scorer in the fixture with 2,809 runs from 21 Tests at a staggering 80.25. He has done so on the back of 10 hundreds and 11 fifties.
Basit believes the wicket of Sangakkara will prove pivotal when the two sides clash.
“Sangakkara will remain key to the series and Pakistan must focus on getting him out. Otherwise, it will turn out to be yet another episode of Sangakkara versus Pakistan.
“He is a genius who not only hunts on the bowlers but also give confidence to others to play around him. If I was to predict a result of the three-match series, I would say that it will be drawn.”
#Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq & #SriLanka captain Angelo Mathews with #SLvPak Test Series Trophy! #cricket #PakvSL pic.twitter.com/Bbis1Y0E0E
— Aleena علینہ (@AnmolAleena) June 12, 2015
The only sweet moment in recent memory for Pakistan was their historic win in Sharjah as they chased down 302 runs in just 57.3 overs in January of last year on the fifth day of the match at a record 5.25 runs per over.
Another former Pakistan player Mohammad Akram, who was head coach of the Pakistan A side that recently toured Sri Lanka, believes that it will be an intense battle that Pakistan are capable of winning.
“Pakistan certainly have a good chance of beating Sri Lanka this time around. During the A tour, we all realised the approach of the Sri Lankans has changed and they are no longer preparing slow and low bouncy pitches which they once used to,” Akram explained.
“They always had those kinds of big turning pitches when Muralitharan was around but now I think they have realised that spin isn’t a force anymore, despite left-arm spinner Rangana Herath’s exploits. We played six matches and all of them were played on hard, bouncy pitches which allowed a fair battle between bat and ball.”
Akram hopes that the visitors’ bowling attack will rise up to the challenge and play a much needed important role, relieving some of the pressure placed on their more settled batting order.
“Our batting is really strong so one can expect good show from them especially after run-galores against Australia, New Zealand and Bangladesh in recent past. But it’s the bowling which need to come to the fore.
“Our spinners Yasir Shah and Zulfiqar Babar have been bowling really well and they certainly can dent the Sri Lankans. But the pacers have got to chip in with wickets up front with the new ball because if they don’t, then it becomes a problem.”
