 Both teams will look forward to this game as their first step closer to the next round, since whoever wins this game will gain the confidence and momentum to advance forward. Both Pakistan and Sri Lanka opened with massive wins over Associate nations, but this will be their first real test in the competition.
By looking at the matches of both Groups, it seems that Group A is little easier as compared to Group B. Since in Group A neither Kenya, Canada nor Zimbabwe poses threat in the matches they have played so far against the strong opposition. So this game became more significant in terms of placings for the quarter-finals. Since both teams knows whoever tops the Group will have to face little weaker team from Group B in the quarterfinals, so the game between Sri Lanka & Pakistan became important from that point of view. So far Pakistan have never lost a single game against Sri Lanka in the world cup but this is also true that they have never faced Sri Lanka after 1992 world cup’s. And we all know how stringer Sri Lankan team is now as compared to earlier team. Sri Lanka will have home advantage but on other hand they knows with Pakistan they can not take anything for granted on there day they can beat any one quite easily. Pitch & Conditions At R.Premdasa Stadium, toss plays a crucial role since out of 13 matches played at this venue team batting first won 12 times. So whichever teams wins the toss they would love to bat first and put runs on the board. Likely Playing XI for both teams (Match is schedule to begin at 14:30 PM India Time) Pakistan and Sri Lanka both looks settled side, until something goes wrong they are likely to go with same Playing XI. Pakistan: Mohammad Hafeez, Ahmed Shehzad, Kamran Akmal (WK), Younis Khan, Misbah-ul-Haq, Umar Akmal, Shahid Afridi (Captain), Abdul Razzaq, Umar Gul, Abdur Rehman, Shoaib Akhtar. Sri Lanka: Tillakaratne Dilshan, Upul Tharanga, Kumar Sangakkara (Captain & WK), Mahela Jayawardene, Chamara Kapugedera, Thilan Samaraweera, Angelo Mathews, Thisara Perera, Nuwan Kulasekara, Ajantha Mendis, Muttiah Muralitharan |
