For PTV Sports Live Cricket Streaming Click here … Pakistan vs Sri Lanka Second Test Day 2
Following Story was posted prior to the beginning of Second Test between Pakistan and Sri Lanka in Dubai on October 6, 2017.
With fresh hope and determination, Pakistan will look to bounce back at Dubai International Cricket Stadium in second Test against Sri Lanka not only for its survival in the two-match series but also to retain its current position in ICC Test rankings.
In the first Test in Abu Dhabi, Pakistan had lost to Sri Lanka by 21 runs, courtesy 39-year-old Rangana Herath’s record-making performance against the Home Side.
At present, Pakistan is occupying the sixth position in ICC Test rankings among 10 top teams but if Sarfraz Ahmed’s men don’t end the second Test yielding result in their favour, Pakistan would slip to seventh position in rankings.
It is pertinent to mention here that Pakistan was at number 1 position in October last year, and if Pakistan loses the second Test against Sri Lanka, its eventual seventh position will be the lowest since 2010.
The Dubai Test will begin shortly, and it will be the second day-night Test at the same venue. Earlier in October last year, Pakistan led by Misbah-ul-Haq defeated West Indies by 56 runs in first ever day-night Test match having been played in United Arab Emirates (UAE) by that time.
For the second Test, Pakistan will bring in Wahab Riaz as replacement of Hasan Ali while rest of the Squad will remain the same. On the other hand, Sadeera Samarawickrama is most likely to replace Lahiru Thirimanne in Sri Lankan Playing XI.
In recent years, toss has been one of the main factors behind Pakistan’s success in Tests. Considering Pakistan’s fragile and inexperienced batting lineup, one hopes that Pakistan doesn’t lose the toss in Dubai; otherwise batting on fifth day may generate the similar results for Pakistan as what was witnessed on October 2.
In addition, Pakistani batsmen will have to come up with an effective approach to play last Test’s Man of the Match Rangana Herath whose variations have always caused trouble for them.
