In the short forms of the game, Sri lanka have completely out played Pakistan some would say curtsy to Pakistan themselves as they slipped to defeats in the 4th and 5th ODI when a win for them was all but likely and Sri lanka we're struggling. The T20 series was drawn 1-1 as Sri lanka took the ODI's 3-1 quite intriguing to say the least that Pakistan is a much more settled and consistent test side coming into this series especially since they haven't lost a test series since the 2010 tour of England and after whitewashing the No.1 side in tests England 3-0 back in January, They'll be as confident as ever. The hosts who also in there last series at home against England gained there first victory in Sri lanka since Muralitharan's retiremement but we're defeated in the 2nd and final test as England drew the series 1-1 in the end meaning there's plenty to come from both sides.
Sri lanka and Pakistan have played 40 Test matches against each other, Pakistan winning 16 losing 9 and drawing 15 the last time both sides played in a test match was in the UAE where Sri lanka we're looking to draw the series in the 3rd and final test but a draw was the end result. Giving them a target off 255 in the final days play, Pakistan we're 57-3 but Captain Misbah ul haq who will not be playing the first test due to a suspension and Asad Shafiq made sure that a typical Pakistani collapse wasn't in order and they fought out the rest of the day to salvage a draw.
Kumar Sangakkara is the leading run scorer in overall encounters between the sides, When he last played Pakistan in the UAE last year he was the only batsman performing consistently for his side which ended him bagging the man of the series award for his country. In 25 innings against Pakistan, he has scored 1830 runs to go with 7 hundreds and 7 fifties at a outstanding average of 79.56 as always his elegance will once again need to rise too the occassion as Sri lanka will now also be looking to try and get a series win since 2010 and runs from Sangakkara's bat will be more than handy.
He may have played in his last ODI series as he was rested for the last game after scores of 1, 4 and 5 and the selectors also saying publicly his future is to be discussed but he remains the King Khan of Pakistan in test match cricket, From the current squad Younis Khan is Pakistan's leading run scorer against Sri lanka with 1356 runs in 28 innings to go with 5 hundreds and 4 fifties at a wonderful average of 52.15. His batting form in the ODI's maybe a question mark to put at the end but there is no doubt he is one of the greatest test batsman to hail from his country and will be hungry for more.
Rangana Herath was the man Pakistan had no answer too when they last toured to Sri lanka in 2009 as his man of the match performance against them in the first test got his country an improbable win against Pakistan. He was rested in the last 2 ODI's as the management felt his work load in the tests will be carried out a lot and so with 36 wickets in 9 matches at 33.19 with a best of 7-132 he'll be looking to be the stand out performer with the ball once again.
A Chief destroyer, Right now argubaly Pakistan's best player and the best spinner in the World. In just 6 matches he has tormented Sri lanka with 32 wickets at 29.34 to go with a best of 8-113 he returns to the country he made his test debut in 2009 and as always he'll be leading his side with the ball from the front. The last time he played Sri lanka in a full series which was in the UAE last year he was Pakistan's man of the series so there's no doubt on these pitches he could be someone to watch again, Stay on a look out for Saeed Ajmal.
GeoSuper