DUBAI: Sri Lanka has won the toss and elected to bat first against Pakistan in the second and final Test on Friday at Dubai International Cricket Stadium here.
Being upbeat after winning the first test by 21 runs, Lankans would be playing with a pink-ball for the first time.
On the flip side, Pakistan will look to strike back with full throttle and act together with ball and bat.
Playing without batting greats Younis Khan and Misbah-ul-Haq for the first time in Abu Dhabi, the inexperienced batsmen saw red in the form of Herath, who stopped them from chasing down a modest 136-run target on a wearing fifth-day pitch with figures of 6 for 43.
Sarfraz Ahmed, the Pakistan skipper, was confident his team staging a comeback.
“As such there is no pressure, but we know the task,” said Sarfraz on Thursday. “We were in a position from where we should have won the first Test. Credit should be given to Herath for the way he bowled, so we need to attack him more in this Test.”
Sarfraz said Hasan Ali, the fast bowler, had suffered a side strain in the first Test, and would be replaced by Wahab Riaz.
Pakistan will also hope Asad Shafiq and Mohammad Amir lift their performances. “Their form is not a worry. We know how good a batsman Asad is. He was batting well in the first innings and then got a good ball in the second,” said Sarfraz of the experienced batsman, who had scores of 39 and 20 in Abu Dhabi. “I am sure he will lift his performance.
“Amir bowled well but was unlucky not to get a wicket,” said Sarfraz of the left-arm quick, who went wicketless in the first Test.
The pink-ball Test, the sixth in all since Australia and New Zealand played the first such game in Adelaide in 2015, will also be a new experience for the Sri Lankan team.
