Chasing Sri Lanka’s average score of 132, Pakistan must have been quietly confident despite having an inexperienced batting line-up consisting of experienced playing coming off some indifferent form; coupled with a couple of players making recalls. Losing two wickets, captain Hafeez and then debutant Shakeel Ansar, in the first two balls to the combination of Kulasekara and Dilshan was not in the script. Both Hafeez and Ansar both played identical cut shots towards the point region.

Khalid Latif, not only did he look a person looking nervous as a result of a comeback but also looked a player that looked out of place in International cricket. His 3 runs from 12 balls was a painful watch; throughout the innings you got the feeling that him getting out was just a matter of time. If Latif’s stay at the crease was bad, Shoaib Malik came out with no purpose whatsoever. He hardly looked to rotate the strike and keep the scorecard ticking. His lack of show of intent was atrocious for a person that has played International cricket for over a decade.

With the team in trouble and severely needing a inspiration; Umar Akmal tried to provide that with his typical no hold barred aggression. The ‘Akmal Swagger’ didn’t last for too long as he got out trying to take the game towards the opposition. In came Shahid Afridi and on his second ball played a ridiculous heave that truly belongs to tape ball cricket in the local park. In amongst all these batsman coming and going in, what can only be described as a, bad rash; one man was standing tall and trying his upmost to rescue the game for Pakistan.

Match Report:  Mobilink Jazz Cup, Sri Lanka v Pakistan 1^st T20, Friday June 1, 2012, Hambantota

Although Pakistan’s bowling got their squad off to an absolutely splendid start, it was their fragile, disastrously arranged and brittle batting line-up which simply could not deal with the Sri Lankan teamwork and catch up to the respectable score that Sri Lanka managed to eke out in the final overs of their innings.

Previous Winners

1998=South Africa

2000=New Zealand

2002=India & Sri Lanka

2004= West Indies

2006= Australia

2009= Australia

2013= left to be decided

The series might not sound the most attractive tussle on paper considering how frequently these two sides have been meeting in the last 3 years or so & how one sided the contests have been in recent times, but one cannot take Sri Lanka for granted or take them lightly at home especially. They are one of the top 7 test oppositions Pakistan can be facing, have some legendary batsmen in their line up & are not a cakewalk, particularly at home by any stretch of the imagination. They will be familiar & experienced with playing the Pakistan side so you will expect them to negotiate with the likes of Saeed Ajmal better this time around. Hence, complacency is Pakistan’s biggest threat & as long as they ensure this keeps as far as away from their cricket as possible, they should in effect take the series honours. The series will be overshadowed by the England V South Africa test series which is probably the series of the year as two top class, settled and balanced sides go head to head in lively conditions & even the West Indies V New Zealand tour which starts in July which will be an even battle with two sides who will be determined not to lose to each other knowing that this is their best chance of beating a decent side. Pakistan played 11 Test or ODI series in 2011, winning or drawing every single one of them. I'll go as far as saying that the Test & ODI series wins against Sri Lanka would be in the top 3 if one was to a ranking of the significance of those series wins. Hence, beating the Lankans is special & we regard them highly, even though historically Pakistan have had the edge over them. Of course if Pakistan do win the series in Sri Lanka it will be of more meaningfulness as they are a different preposition on their home patch as established. Plus, Sri Lanka did have their own financial problems when they last played Pakistan so they were in a bit of turmoil away from the field of play. Those issue seem to been resolved now which should put them in better stead. The T20 leg of the tour is more significant in this context with the T20 WC 3 & half months away which will be held in Sri Lanka so adapting to the conditions will be a factor, although conditions do not play a huge part in this format, but will play somewhat of a part still.