GALLE: Pakistan captain Misbahul Haq won the toss under overcast conditions and elected to bat first against Sri Lanka in the first test on Wednesday. Pakistan has not played a test for seven months but retained the same team that defeated Sri Lanka in the famous run-chase at Sharjah in January to level that series. Since then, Sri Lanka has been on a roll and won the Asia Cup, World Twenty20 and the test series in England before losing to South Africa at home last month. Sri Lankas most accomplished batsman Mahela Jayawardene will be playing his last test at his favourite Galle International Stadium and will retire after the second test at his home ground in Colombo. Earlier, the start of the first test of the two-match series between Sri Lanka and Pakistan was delayed due to a wet outfield. The two-Test series between Sri Lanka and Pakistan was scheduled to start in Galle on August 6, with the host aiming to improve its ranking in the Reliance ICC Test Team Rankings Table, and Pakistan looking to retain its third position. Pakistan is currently ranked third with 103 ratings points, while Sri Lanka is eight ratings points behind in sixth position, with 95 ratings points. While the final rankings of each team are heavily dependent on the ongoing five-Test series between England and India, both will be aiming for a series win to avoid downwards movement. The five-Test series between England and India will end a day after the series between Sri Lanka and Pakistan finishes. The series between England and India is currently locked in a 1-1 deadlock at the end of the first three Tests. Meanwhile, Pakistan must win the series to maintain its hold on third position and thereby close the gap with South Africa and Australia in first and second place, respectively, while Sri Lanka could drop a place to seventh in such a scenario. On the other hand, if Sri Lanka were to win the series 1-0, it could move up one place to fifth, while a 2-0 win will hand Angelo Mathews side a rise of two places to fourth. A series loss by any margin will mean that Pakistan would drop to sixth. A 1-1 series deadlock will see both sides maintaining their pre-series rankings.Dawn News
Posted on: Wed, 06 Aug 2014 05:53:38 +0000
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