Pakistan look for immediate response

Pakistan are looking to level the Test series in Sri Lanka and preserve their unbeaten five-day record

Pakistan will have their work cut out as they seek to defend their impressive record in Sri Lanka when the second Test gets under way at the Pakiasothy Saravanamuttu Stadium in Colombo tomorrow.

The tourists have never lost a Test series in Sri Lanka, but their stunning defeat in under four days in Galle earlier this week has left Younus Khan and his young team not only facing severe criticism, but also in danger of tarnishing their superb record.

Younus’ side must now mount a fightback and PCB chairman Ijaz Butt believes they have to stamp out the “irresponsible” batting which proved their undoing last time out.

“You can’t expect to win all the time,” Butt said. “I thought the team played well throughout the first Test, but lost it in one session because of irresponsible batting.

“Hopefully the team will improve their performance in the remaining matches.”

The PCB’s director for development of the game Aamir Sohail also claims the bowlers should learn to skittle out the tail quickly.

“The bowlers didn’t wrap up the tail quickly enough in both innings,” Sohail said.

“In the first innings they allowed Sri Lanka reach 292 after being 194 for six.

“In the second innings too, the home side were 156 for seven, but were again let off the hook. It’s a worrying aspect."

Meanwhile Sri Lanka’s selectors have announced an unchanged squad for this match, but a final decision on the team will be made tomorrow morning.

Captain Kumar Sangakkara, however, favours three fast bowlers in the side, which means he could well field the same team from Galle.

“Three specialist fast bowlers takes a huge burden off the entire bowling unit,” Sangakkara said. “It makes a big difference.”

The Sri Lankan captain added: “We had a great final day in Galle, but we all know we are not at our best,” he said.

“We have to be mindful of the fact that we cannot get over-confident with one win.”