After wrapping up the Test and ODI series, Pakistan will now turn their attentions to the shortest format of the game when they take on Sri Lanka in the first of two T20 internationals at the Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Thursday, July 30.
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka have been the top team in this format of the game after winning the last ICC World T20 in 2012 in Bangladesh.
Pakistan’s line-up includes five players who have not played in the tour so far.
While a series to win on the Sri Lankan soil, where the green shirts have been struggling from many years would be a morale boosting conquest for young Pakistani cricketers.
Malinga is a world class operator with the ball in limited overs cricket and Sri Lanka will pin their hopes on their front-line bowler and captain.
Islanders’ squad features five players who are yet to make their T20 debut including Dhananjaya de Silva, Dasun Shanaka and Shehan Jayasuriya, semaer Binura Fernando and spinner Jeffrey Vandersay. They do not have Dinesh Chandimal or Lahiru Thirimanne, but Sri Lanka have plenty of options with five uncapped players in the squad.
Chief selector Kapila Wijegunawardene said, per ESPN Cricinfo: “We need to get the younger brigade in the stream, so we have a gradual transition leading up to the next World T20 and the 50-over World Cup beyond that”.
Wahab Riaz, sidelined with a fractured hand since the second Test, will be replaced by Zia-ul-Haq, another left-arm quick.
Leg-spinner Yasir Shah, who picked up 24 wickets in the three Tests, returns to the Twenty20 fold after four years, while 33-year-old fast bowler Mohammad Irfan has also been picked.
Sri Lanka: Lasith Malinga (capt), Tillakaratne Dilshan, Kusal Perera (wk), Kithuruwan Vithanage, Dananjaya de Silva, Angelo Mathews, Dasun Shanaka, Chamara Kapugedara, Shehan Jayasuriya, Thisara Perera, Jeffrey Vandersay, Nuwan Kulasekara, Binura Fernando, Chathuranga de Silva, Milinda Siriwardana.
Pakistan have the experience of Shahid Afridi, Shoaib Malik and Yasir Arafat to call upon as well as bright new talents such as Imad Wasim and Mukhtar Ahmed.
Zimbabwe Cricket chairman Wilson Manase says Pakistan’s incoming tour will go ahead next month with a revised schedule. The win in the ODI series helped Pakistan had qualified for 2017 Champions Trophy being staged in England. For now, Pakistan has the eighth and final qualifying spot. “By the end of this series, we will know which ones of them are good enough to play in worldwide cricket so that they can be a part of our World T20 plans”.
