Pakistan bracing for 'tough' ODI series against Sri Lanka in UAE

Pakistan captain Misbah ul Haq is bracing for a "tough" limited over series against Sri Lanka who performed with steely determination to retain their top ranking in the Twenty20 format.

"They showed in the T20 matches, how good they are. We have to be really on our toes and play really good cricket to beat them. It's going to be a tough series," said Misbah ahead of the five-match one-day series which begins at Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Wednesday December 18.

All-rounder Shahid Afridi steered Pakistan to a three-wicket win in the opening T20 match before Sri Lanka fired by a sparkling half century from Kusal Perera bounced back to win the second by 24 runs in Dubai.

Skipper Misbah-ul Haq, whose side lie sixth in the one-day rankings, two places lower than Sri Lanka, hopes they can build on their confidence-building success, saying his players thrive under pressure.

"We have good confidence before another tough series and we hope to carry the momentum we gained in South Africa," said Misbah who led Pakistan to their first-ever ODI series win against the Proteas just weeks after a 4-1 drubbing against the same opposition in the UAE.

However, he warned against complacency.

"It matters how you perform on the day. I think Sri Lanka really came back in the second Twenty20 after losing the first game. They looked an improved side. This is what you are going to associate with the Sri Lanka team. That they really are fighters and can come back strongly. We need to repeat the good performances. We need to really show some good skills to beat them," said Misbah who takes over as captain from Mohammed Hafeez for the ODI and Test series when asked whether they should have done better considering the amount of international cricket they had played as compared to Sri Lanka.

Pakistan have been on the road since November hosting a bilateral series against South Africa in the UAE before travelling for a short limited over series in South Africa while Sri Lanka had a tour by New Zealand curtailed by rain.

Sri Lanka captain Mathews said they were raring to go despite not having played much international cricket.

"Even though New Zealand series was half washed out, I thought we got some decent cricket. We had our domestic tournament. We had good match practice. The boys showed it in the Twenty20 series. We are in a positive frame to do well in the one-day series as well," said Sri Lanka's Test ODI and Test skipper who takes over Dinesh Chandimal.

"We know they (Pakistan) are a very dangerous team when it comes to the shorter format. They have one of the best bowling line ups in the world. A good mix of spin and fast bowlers. Our batters need to be on guard to try and counter attack and be positive. We had an exciting Twenty20 series and we look forward to the one-day series as well," said the the dusky all-rounder who was amazed with the support they received from the Sri Lankan community in Dubai.

"I was surprised to see so many Sri Lankans coming and watching the game. We felt like playing at home as there were so many Sri Lankans. Generally playing in Dubai against Pakistan, not many Sri Lankans come and watch. We are really extremely glad to see them turn up," said Mathews who was also pleased to play in cooler conditions than when they last came to the UAE.

Sri Lanka will miss the services of veterans Mahela Jayawardene and Rangana Herath but Mathews was confident their replacements would step up to the plate.

"It's kind of a bad news we received. We send our love to his family," said Mathews on left-arm spinner Herath's decision to skip the one-day series after the demise of his mother earlier this week.

"We feel for him and hopefully he will be with the Test team. Whoever will replace them will do the job but Rangana Herath and Mahela are two very important people in our unit," he stressed.

Mathews ruled out the possibility of tinkering with the team for the one-day series.

"We are looking forward to win the series. We need to take our best XI out to the middle from the very first game. So we can't be complacent and we can't be trying out so many things with players," said Mathews who was pleased with the form of all-rounder Seekkuge Prasanna.

"Prasanna is a guy who can hit the ball out of the park any time. And he is a very gutsy player. He is a very good all-rounder for us and we hope to see him doing well," he said.

Mathews also praised the work ethic of pace ace Lasith Malinga who has returned after a break.

"Lasith has been our premier bowler for the last so many years. He knows his job and he knows what he has to do when the team needs him. He is very professional with his training and workload. I'm pretty sure he will deliver the goods for the team," said Mathews.

Misbah on the other hand was pleased with the performance of youngsters.

"This is how we got Bilawal Bhatti and Anwar Ali who performed really well in South Africa. I think Sharjeel Khan is another example. This is the way to get good players in the line up. You can really enhance your pool of players and we should continue wherever you need someone, to replace from the domestic circuit. Give him exposure and check him at this level," he said when asked whether it was a good idea to expose players like 19-year-old Usman Khan who made his debut in the T20 matches.

Asked what they could learn from the South Africa one-day series which they lost 4-1 in UAE and the one they won in South Africa, he said: "You need to do basics right all the time. Especially in batting we need to build very good partnerships. Top order batsmen need to carry on once they get starts. That's what we proved in South Africa. (Ahmed) Shehzad was getting runs here and he got a hundred (in South Africa) that really helped Pakistan. That's what we were missing (in UAE)."

Pakistan will be without lanky paceman Mohammad Irfan after the bowler fractured his hip bone during the Twenty20 series against South Africa last month and was ruled out of the series.
 
The Twenty20 series between the sides finished all square at 1-1.

The remaining ODIs will be played in Dubai (December 20), Sharjah (December 22) and Abu Dhabi (December 25 and 27).

The one-day series will be followed by three Tests.

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