Preview: Sri Lanka V/s Pakistan. Battle for sub-continent kingdom begins

Mercurial Paksitan will take on Lankan Lions in their own den today. This will going to be a cracker of the contest and believe me both team will play for advantage. This match will also give some hint about Sri Lanka's journey towards World Cup finals. But it will be important match for both the teams and nobody will going to take it lightly as one mistake will result into the defeat.


Squad:

Kumar Sangakkara(Captain/WK), Upul Tharanga, Chamara Silva, Lasith Malinga, Dilhara Fernando, Mahela Jayawardene(Vice-Captain), Thilan Samaraweera, Angelo Mathews, Nuwan Kulasekara, Chamara Kapugedara, Muttiah Muralitharan, Thisara Perera, Rangana Herath, Ajantha Mendis, Tillakratane Dilshan. Trevor Bayliss(Coach)


If we talk about Sri Lanka, they are considered favourite for the trophy alongwith Team India and it is also justified with their performances in the recent matches. They won their last series against West Indies and all their players are in supreme form. Dilshan, Sangakkara and Jayawardene will be their mainstay in the batting while bowling will revolve around Malinga, Muralitharan and Mendis. Sri Lanka have very balanced team. they have good batsmen in top-order, they have good all-rounders in Perera and Mathews and they possess lethal spinning warriors in Muralitharan and Mendis. They also have great advantage of playing at home and they have best suited team for the conditions and pitches in sub-continent. Remember they became champion in 1996 in sub-continent conditions. They are great fielding side  and probably best in sub-continent which is huge  advantage for  them over Pakistan

Squad:

Misbah Ul Haq, Shahid Afridi(Captain), Younis Khan, Umar Akmal, Kamran Akmal(WK), Mohammad Hafeez, Asad Shafiq, Abdul Razzaq,  Abdur Rehman, Shoaib Akhtar, Sohail Tanvir, Umar Gul, Wahab Riaz, Saeed Ajmal, Ahmed Shehzad. Waqar Younis(Coach)


As far as Pakistan is concerned their confidence is sky high after series win New Zealand and they also beat Kenya convincingly in their first match. Their middle-order got few runs under their belt as Misbah Ul Haq, Younis Khan, Umar Akmal and Kamran Akmal got half-centuries in the game against Kenya and had very good batting practice. Pakistan is always known about its bowling and this time also they possess one of the best attack in the tournament. They have Umar Gul, Shoaib Akhtar and Abdul Razzak at their disposal who will be  supported well by the off-spinner Saeed Ajmal and leg-spinner Shahid Afridi.  Pakistan had few controversies before the start of World Cup but now they forgot everything and focusing hard on the tournament. Opening pair is bit of concern for them as both their openers failed against Kenya so they have to correct it in the game against Sri Lanka. I think they must try Kamran Akmal in opening who was their regular opener few months back and move Hafeez at No.3 position.

I believe mouth-watering contest is in offer today and this match will definitely go till the last ball and that will be a treat for the cricket-lovers.