DUBAI – Pakistan meets Sri Lanka in the first of three T20 internationals in Abu Dhabi today. The Green Shirts’ limited-overs form, with their bowling devastating opponent after opponent, saw them brush Sri Lanka aside 5-0 in the ODI series which concluded on Monday. With their T20 form even better, they will start the shortest format as firm favourites.
If Pakistan, currently ranked No. 2 in the ICC T20I rankings, win all three matches they will come within a point of top-ranked New Zealand. If New Zealand then lose their T20 series against India next month, Pakistan will move up to the No. 1 spot.
Sarfraz Ahmed, under whom Pakistan have won nine of their 11 T20Is, described the ODI series win as satisfying and promised that there would be no let up in the shortest format.
“It was highly satisfying to win 5-0 because all the players have done well in all three departments,” said Sarfraz. “The best thing is that youngsters have done well and made an impact whenever they got a chance.”
But the Pakistan captain does not rate Sri Lanka as weak, even though the Sri Lankan selectors were forced to announce a new look team once Upul Tharanga, the regular skipper, Suranga Lakmal, Chamara Kapugedera, Akila Dananjaya and Lasith Malinga all pulled out of the tour due to security fears.
Pakistan’s pace department, their main weapon in their rise in ODI cricket since winning the ICC Champions Trophy 2017 in England in June, will welcome back spearhead Mohammad Amir who missed the 50 over games with a shin injury.