Pakistan recall Shoaib, Azhar

Pakistan recall Shoaib, Azhar
AGENCE FRANCE PRESSE

LAHORE, FEBRUARY 15: Sri Lankan cricket coach Dave Whatmore said on Tuesday his boys were confident of achieving ``sweet success'' against Pakistan in the One-Day International series. ``We have beaten a tough team like Australia at home, but if we clinch the limited-overs series against Pakistan in their den it would be a sweet success,'' Whatmore said.

Sri Lanka, 1-0 up in the three-match series after their 29-run win in Karachi, take on Pakistan in Gujranwala on Wednesday. Pakistan have recalled pacer Shoaib Akhtar, suspended for the first match on disciplinary grounds, and all-rounder Azhar Mahmood. Teenage all-rounder Yasir Arafat and pacer Zahid Saeed have been left out of the 15-man squad. ``Our concern is off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq and batsman Yousuf Youhanna, both are not performing as per expectations,'' Alam said.

Sri Lanka is likely to bring in pacer Nuwan Zoysa for Pramodya Wickremasinghe.

New Zealand unfazed
WELLINGTON: Steve Waugh's Australians set out to make history this weekagainst a revitalised New Zealand looking to be the spoilers in their six One-Day cricket international series. Australia needs victories in the first three games to smash the limited-over record of 11 consecutive wins, shared by the 1984 West Indians and the 1992 England team.

But playing on their home pitches, New Zealand are confident of their chances of upsetting the world champions.Former Australian wicket-keeper Steve Rixon, who stepped down last August after three years as New Zealand coach, believes the Black Caps will knock off Australia in the one-day series.
The Schedule: One-dayers: Feb 16 at Wellington, Feb 19 at Auckland, Feb 23 at Dunedin, Feb 26 at Christchurch, March 1 at Napier & March 3 at Auckland. Tests: March 11-15 at Auckland, March 24-28 at Wellington and March 31-April 4 at Hamilton.