KARACHI, 6 October 2004 — Sri Lankan captain Marvan Atapattu said his side must build on their Asia Cup win as they face hosts Pakistan in the tri-series One-Day tournament here at the National Stadium today.
Sri Lanka bundled Pakistan out for a meager 122 and scored a seven-wicket victory in a group match which paved their way to win the Asia Cup back on home soil in July. The Sri Lankans also won the Asian Test title in 2002.
“Asia Cup is finished and this is a new tournament at a new venue but it was nice to win a major event like the Asia Cup,” Atapattu told reporters yesterday. “We need to build on that win by achieving good results here.”
The tri-series event also involves a new look Zimbabwe side who have lost both their matches against Pakistan. “There are two major sides in this tri-series and we need to beat them to qualify for the final and that’s what our aim is,” said Atapattu, whose side will miss the guile of wily off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan.
“Of course, we miss Muralitharan but in the last few months we have shown good all round performances from the available players.”
Muralitharan, who holds the world record of most Test wickets with 532 besides 366 One-Day wickets in 237 matches, is recuperating after a shoulder injury and is not on this tour.
Atapattu said his four-pronged pace attack gives his side some edge. “We have four pacers with the return of Dilhara Fernando so that gives us more options and we are right up there to expose any weakness Pakistan has,” he said.
Fit-again Pakistan captain Inzamam ul-Haq said the Asia Cup was history. “What happened in the past is past, we now look to do well in the first real challenge of this tournament and we are ready for that,” said Inzamam, who missed Sunday’s game against Zimbabwe due to groin injury. Also back in the squad are express pacer Shoaib Akhtar and allrounder Abdul Razzaq who were both rested during Pakistan’s three-wicket win over Zimbabwe on Sunday.
Pakistan will persist with Younis Khan as wicketkeeper to include one extra batsman as regular keeper Moin Khan has still to recover from flu and fever.
“We know Sri Lanka is a tough side but after two good games against Zimbabwe we are well-tuned and hope the guys raise their level and give us the one more win to qualify for the final,” said Inzamam.
Inzamam admitted Muralitharan’s absence would help Pakistan.
“His absence would give us advantage but having said that we know Sri Lanka have recently beaten South Africa without Muralitharan,” he said.
Muralitharan Signs For English County Lancashire
Meanwhile, Muralitharan has signed for Lancashire for the first half of the 2005 season, the English county side said in London yesterday. Sri Lanka off spinner Muralitharan has had two previous spells with the county in 1999 and 2001, taking 116 wickets at an average of 15.06 in 14 first-class matches.
“It’s great to have Murali on board again,” Lancashire cricket manager Mike Watkinson told the club’s website. “He is an obvious leader in world cricket and will provide an added edge to the early part of the season.”
Also, New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming has agreed to become Nottinghamshire’s skipper in 2005. “I have harbored an ambition to captain a leading English county team,” Fleming, 31, was quoted as saying on the club’s official website.
“Nottinghamshire proved they are one of the up and coming counties with promotion (in two competitions) last season and Trent Bridge holds special personal memories with my Test century on the ground this summer.”
Fleming, who previously had spells with English counties Middlesex and Yorkshire, has represented New Zealand in 85 Tests and 226 One-Day Internationals.
