Sri Lanka ready for a fresh start against Pakistan under Kusal Mendis
Sri Lanka CricketNews article
The Kusal Mendis-led Sri Lanka side is gearing up for the first match of the three-match Twenty20 International series against Pakistan in Rawalpindi tomorrow (the 9th). After losing all three T20s on the tour of England, Sri Lanka face the significant challenge here of reshaping the team's composition and style of play.
This series is not merely another international assignment for Sri Lanka. It is an important opportunity to build stability in the side under the captaincy of Kusal Mendis, and to find a suitable team combination at a time when several key players are unavailable through injury.
Speaking at a media briefing held today about the series, Kusal Mendis said that he and the team are well prepared to play good cricket in this series. "Yes. We trained yesterday as well. In particular, we spent several hours batting in the nets. I think all our batters know how to play T20 cricket in Pakistan," Kusal said, adding, "Generally, if you take Pakistan, they offer good pitches not only in T20s but in ODIs too. Many of our players feature in the Pakistan Super League. There are also players in this team who took part in the last series held in Pakistan. I think everyone knows how to play in Pakistan."
The return of Kusal Mendis, who missed the T20 series against England due to an injury, is an important boost for Sri Lanka. This time he leads the side, and along with his responsibilities in the batting department, the challenge of giving the team a steady start also lies before him.
However, there have been several changes to the Sri Lanka squad. Former captain Charith Asalanka is not part of the squad this time, while leading all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga misses the series due to an injury. Vijayakanth Viyaskanth has been called up in place of Wanindu.
Although Wanindu's absence affects Sri Lanka's bowling plans as well as the middle-order batting, the Sri Lankan side must make sure to overcome that difficulty and play to their maximum. Accordingly, the contribution of the players coming in for him, and the way the spin bowling responsibilities are shared within the team, will come under scrutiny in the series starting tomorrow.
The inclusion of Sineth Jayawardena in the Sri Lanka T20 squad after his performances in domestic cricket is also a notable feature. The performances he produced in domestic matches representing Tamil Union have earned him this opportunity.
In Sri Lanka's batting, apart from Kusal Mendis, the contributions of players such as Kamindu Mendis, Kamil Mishara, Sahan Arachchige and Dasun Shanaka will also be important. However, the composition of the final eleven and the batting order will be decided closer to the match.
Fast bowler Dushmantha Chameera also has the chance to make this series a personal milestone. He needs just one more wicket to pass the 100-wicket mark in T20 Internationals.
If Chameera manages to cross that mark, he will join Lasith Malinga and Wanindu Hasaranga among the Sri Lankan bowlers to have taken 100 wickets in T20 Internationals. But since the final decision on Chameera's fitness will be taken before the match, his availability is also an important factor in Sri Lanka's bowling plans.
If Chameera is unable to play, an alternative fast bowler such as Eshan Malinga could get the opportunity. Maheesh Theekshana and Nuwan Thushara will also play important roles in Sri Lanka's bowling plans.
Hosts Pakistan too enter this series under new leadership. Sahibzada Farhan has been appointed captain of the Pakistan T20 side, while Salman Agha has been dropped from the squad.
Alongside Farhan, the Pakistan team including players such as Saim Ayub, Fakhar Zaman, Shadab Khan and Naseem Shah can pose a stiff challenge to Sri Lanka with both bat and ball. However, with the change in leadership, how responsibilities are shared within the team and how their plans are executed will become clear during the series.
This series carries special importance for Pakistan as well. It is a key assignment among the T20 International series confirmed for Pakistan this year, and after it the host side will have to turn its attention to ODI and Test series.
One occasion that left a special memory for Sri Lanka in Pakistan was the T20 series played in 2019. There, a second-string Sri Lanka side missing several key players beat Pakistan in all three matches to win the series 3-0.
That defeat is regarded as a notable instance of Pakistan being whitewashed in a T20 series on home soil. While that history may give Sri Lanka some mental strength this time, given the current team composition, players' fitness and match conditions, the series will be a different challenge altogether.
As the Rawalpindi ground is generally considered a venue where high scores can be recorded, batters on both sides will have to maintain the scoring rate from the outset. In such conditions, scoring in the powerplay overs, protecting wickets through the middle overs and lifting the run rate in the closing overs will be decisive for the result.
Likewise, in high-scoring matches, bowlers' ability to execute plans under pressure is also important. Accordingly, if Sri Lanka are to contain the Pakistan batters, taking wickets in the opening overs and restricting runs in the final overs will be essential.
Sri Lanka enter this series with many objectives: rebuilding the team's confidence after the defeats in England, testing the contribution of new players, and finding an alternative combination at a time when key players are unavailable. Accordingly, the three matches in Rawalpindi will be important both for gauging the team's current standing and for further strengthening the combination and game plans needed for upcoming T20 cricket.
This match is scheduled to begin at 6.30 p.m. Sri Lanka time.
Sri Lanka squad – Kusal Mendis (captain), Kamil Mishara, Sineth Jayawardena, Lahiru Udara, Sahan Arachchige, Kamindu Mendis, Dasun Shanaka, Chamindu Wickramasinghe, Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth, Dushmantha Chameera, Binura Fernando, Nuwan Thushara, Eshan Malinga.
Pakistan squad – Sahibzada Farhan (captain), Abdul Samad, Abrar Ahmed, Arafat Minhas, Fakhar Zaman, Hasan Nawaz, Mohammad Imran Randhawa, Khawaja Nafay, Maaz Sadaqat, Naseem Shah, Rasoolullah, Saim Ayub, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Shadab Khan, Sufiyan Muqeem.
Based on Sri Lanka Cricket reporting