Pakistan aim to set the records straight

Visitors have been without a win in Sri Lanka since 2006

Pakistan bowling coach Mushtaq Ahmed and Ehsan Adil talk during a practice session at the Galle International Cricket Stadium in Galle on Tuesday. The first Test between Pakistan and Sri Lanka begins today. — AFP

Galle — Hosts Sri Lanka will take on Pakistan in the opening Test match of the three-match starting today in Galle.

Pakistan and Sri Lanka have already played six series in as many years, the last of which also took place on the island a year ago. The hosts won both Tests, leaving Pakistan without a win in Sri Lanka since 2006.

Pakistani captain Misbah-ul Haq will hope to rectify that record and build on a commendable 2-0 win over Australia in the UAE last year, followed by a 1-0 triumph in Bangladesh this May.

“It is always interesting to play Sri Lanka because both sides know each other’s game well,” said Misbah. “Pakistan has done well in Tests recently and that has given us a lot of confidence.”

Sri Lanka’s coach Marvan Atapattu said Pakistan will miss spin spearhead Saeed Ajmal, who was not selected after struggling with a remodelled bowling action on the Bangladesh tour last month.

“Ajmal at his peak gave a lot of batsmen sleepless nights,” Atapattu told the Colombo-based Nation newspaper. “Now that he is not there gives us a psychological advantage.

“I believe Pakistan have got bowlers who could win games, but they have not done it yet. But we’ve still got to respect the good ball and put away the bad ones,” the AFP quoted him saying this.

The opening match at the Galle International Stadium will be followed by the second Test at the P. Sara Oval in Colombo from June 25 and the third in Pallekele from July 3.

The Tests will be followed by five one-day internationals and two Twenty20 matches.