KARACHI, 27 October 2004 — Pakistan captain Inzamam ul-Haq has urged his batsmen to assume more responsibility as his team attempt to save the two-match Test series against Sri Lanka. Inzamam, whose team have already lost a home series to India this year, said Pakistan faced an uphill battle in the second Test starting tomorrow after losing the first match by 201 runs.
“The batsmen played badly in Faisalabad and handed the initiative to them. It is now their time to make amends in this match,” he said. He said the Pakistan bowling had already been weakened by the absence of fast bowler Mohammad Sami, who is unfit, and added: “The batsmen will have to put enough runs on the board to give the bowlers a fair chance of bowling them out twice.”
Pakistan’s batsmen managed just 264 and 216 in the first Test loss at Faisalabad where Sanath Jayasuirya scored an epic 253. Sri Lanka fought back from nine for three in the first session to complete a sixth Test win in Pakistan and set themselves up for a hat trick of series wins in Pakistan after winning in 1995-96 and 1999-2000.
Pakistan have confirmed two changes for the second Test with wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal replacing Moin Khan and Sami likely to be replaced by Rana Naved.
In turn, the Sri Lankans will be looking to improve upon a modest Test record in Karachi.
“For us every match is a new challenge. This Test is another opportunity for us to work toward the goal we have set ourselves,” said Sri Lanka skipper Marvan Atapattu. Coach John Dyson said Sri Lanka needed to play consistently better away from home.
“We have identified that to be recognized as a world class outfit we need to win more frequently overseas,” he said. “I don’t mean just in the subcontinent. I mean in Australia, England, New Zealand, South Africa.”
Pakistan have won 18 out of 36 Tests in the southern port city and lost just once to England in December 2000.
Dyson said he was pleased with the way his team had fought their way out of an awkward situation in Faisalabad.
“We have learnt from Australia how to fight out of hard situations. We were in an awkward position in Faisalabad and we fought our way out of it. I am pleased the boys have shown they can do that,” he said.
Teams:
Pakistan — Inzamam ul-Haq (captain), Yousuf Youhana, Yasir Hameed, Imran Farhat, Asim Kamal, Younis Khan, Kamran Akmal, Abdul Razzaq, Shoaib Malik, Shoaib Akhtar, Rana Naved, Riaz Afridi, Danish Kaneria, Zulqarnain Haider.
Sri Lanka — Marvan Atapattu (Captain), Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara, Thilan Samaraweera, Sanath Jayasuriya, Jehan Mubarak, Ian Daniel, Romesh Kaluwitharana, Lasith Malinga, Chaminda Vaas, Farveez Maharoof, Dilhara Fernando, Upul Chandana, Rangana Herath, Thilina Kandamby.
