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Shahid Ahmed Khan
LAHORE, MAR 3: Already assured of a final berth, Pakistan begin favourites against a young and depleted Sri Lanka in the final league tie of the Asian Test cricket championship beginning here tomorrow.
Pakistan, who scored a 46-run win over India in the first match at Calcutta earlier this month, have qualified with 17 points but India will be keenly awaiting the outcome at the Gaddafi Stadium as they stand second with 10 points after completing both league matches.
Sri Lanka, with only four points from their draw against India in Colombo, face an uphill task to clinch seven more to force their way into a final clash against Pakistan at Dhaka from March 12 to 16 as they are without several stalwarts.
Skipper Arjuna Ranatunga, star bat Aravinda de Silva, explosive left-handed opener Sanath Jayasuriya, off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan as well as experienced paceman Chaminda Vaas are absent with the fairly inexperienced side led by lefthander Hashan Tillekeratne.
Pakistan, led by top all-rounder WasimAkram, have dropped veteran batsmen Salim Malik and Ijaz Ahmed, while rookie paceman Shoaib Akhtar, who snapped up eight wickets at Calcutta, has also been ruled out with a sprained neck.
Akram refused to take the match lightly. ``In view of the team's recent achievements, I am positive and confident about victory,'' Akram said and warned against any complacency.
Young batsman Mohammed Wasim is expected to take Malik's place in the eleven while the hard-hitting Imran also looks set to be included.
Both teams are expected to announce their final elevens only tomorrow.
Teams:
Pakistan (from): Wasim Akram (capt), Saeed Anwar, Imran Nazir, Wajahatullah Wasti, Shahid Afridi, Mohammad Wasim, Yousuf Youhana, Inzamam-ul Haq, Moin Khan, Azhar Mahmood, Saqlain Mushtaq, Shahid Nazir, Arshad Khan and Fazal-e-Akbar.
Sri Lanka (from): Hashan Tillekeratne (capt), Mahela Jayawardane, Marvan Atapattu, Romesh Kaluwitharana, Russel Arnold, Avishka Gunawardena, Pramodya Wickremasinghe, Ruchira Perera,Suresh Perera, Chandika Hathurasinghe, Ruwan Kalpage, Upul Chandana, Niroshan Bandaratilleke and Sajeewa de Silva.
Umpires: David Shepherd (England) and Rudi Koertzen (South Africa).
Copyright © 1999 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
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