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Wednesday, 22 July 2015 00:40 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
ESPNCricinfo: Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews has said that offspinner Sachithra Senanayake’s reduced potency following remedial work on his action was among the reasons he had not been picked so far in the series. Sri Lanka’s bowling has ailed against Pakistan so far, prompting calls for personnel changes, but Mathews felt they were already using their best bowlers.
Senanayake was suspended for exceeding the 15-degree flexion limit last year, but has since been cleared to bowl after remodeling his action. In eight matches since returning to ODI cricket, he averages 41.11 with an economy rate of 5.23. He had averaged 34.82 with an economy rate of 4.62 prior to his suspension.
“Sachithra has bowled well, but after his remedial work, his effectiveness has slightly decreased,” Mathews said. “ The other thing is, Pakistan have seven right-handers at the top and are also a team that plays spin well. Dilshan is there to provide offspin. There is a chance Sachithra will play, but in all three matches so far, our spinners didn’t get much out of the track. If we look at their spinners, they have bowlers who turn it a lot. Yasir Shah would turn it on any track. Sometimes we have to do the best with what we are good at. We have to figure out how to do well with the bowlers we have.”
Lasith Malinga’s apparent decline has also been worrying for Sri Lanka. Malinga had surgery on his ankle last year, and has since suffered a variety of other complaints. He averages 36.93 and has an economy rate of 6.04 in ten matches this year - his worst numbers since 2009. Mathews said Malinga continued to deserve a place in the side despite leaking runs at eight an over on Sunday.
“It’s not at all an issue to drop a senior, but we know Lasith’s capabilities. He understands his game. He feels that he hasn’t performed well and that he needs to do a lot better for the team. You need to give guys chances as well. As soon as you have a couple of bad games you can’t throw away these players because they are quality players. They are experienced enough to handle their game. I’m pretty sure he’ll come out firing tomorrow.
“We’ve talked about his performance with Lasith. We are confident he’ll play in the way the team needs him to play. The quick bowlers didn’t do well in the three matches - not just Lasith. We didn’t have a bowler who could take wickets. We can’t make major changes.”
With the spin stocks appearing bare, there have also been calls to recall Rangana Herath to the side. However, Mathews said Herath’s omission was largely self-imposed.
“We talked with the selectors about Rangana Herath. As he wants to play Tests for a while, we got a message that one-dayers are a bit tough on his body, given his injuries. He talked with the selectors and told them his stand. He’s someone who’s very valuable to us in Tests. He can’t be particularly athletic in ODIs with his knees the way they are. He told the selectors and myself that, and so we’ll look at him when the Tests come.”
Sri Lanka Cricket said yesterday that security measures would be tightened for today’s ODI between Sri Lanka and Pakistan at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Kettarama.
“Spectators are advised to refrain from carrying hooters, liquor, glass bottles, sharp objects and lighters/match boxes into the stadium. Any unruly behavior by any spectator will be severely dealt with and may even be subject to eviction from the grounds,” the SLC said in a statement.
On Sunday a group of unruly spectators clashed, forcing a temporary halt to the third ODI in Kettarama. Police on Monday arrested four suspects over the incident.
New Delhi: Indian tennis star on Monday shared a video with hubby Shoaib Malik and other Pakistani cricketers celebrating win over Sri Lanka.
They danced to ‘Abhi Toh Party Shuru Hui Hai’.
Sarfraz Ahmed scored 77 and Yasir Shah grabbed four wickets as Pakistan thrashed Sri Lanka by 135 runs in the violence-hit third one-day international in Colombo on Sunday night.
She tweeted Celebrating the win with @realshoaibmalik #irfan #ehsan #bilal #mukhtar #babar #brad
Sania has been quite dubsmash fan and keeps sharing videos through her Twitter account.
She has been cheering for husband Shoaib during the ODI series in Sri Lanka after returning from Wimbledon victory.
Pakistan chief selector Haroon Rasheed says that a steady flow of young talent has not only made their job easier but also put pressure on the senior players to perform well.
Former Test batsman Rasheed also made it clear that the selection committee had a clear policy that those seniors who didn’t perform consistently well would be sidelined from the national team in both formats.
“We are looking at the future and at the next World T20 Cup. Our performances in Sri Lanka show that the youngsters are coming up well and that is a very good sign for Pakistan cricket,” he said. The chief selector said while youngsters in their twenties would now be given proper chances to prove themselves in international cricket seniors in their thirties would have to make an impact in the matches they get.
“We expect the senior players to perform when they play and show more consistency and responsibility like Shoaib Malik has done in Sri Lanka or like Younis Khan did in the third Test,” he noted.
“Any senior player who is not consistently good enough will have to give way for younger players.” Rasheed was also clear that the selectors wanted to see a turnaround in form from the experienced and flamboyant all-rounder, Shahid Afridi who retired from ODIs after the World Cup but now leads the national T20 side.
“We are expecting him to do more and prepare a strong side for the World T20. It may sound hard but we don?t want players playing on reputation alone,” he said. He noted that the induction of younger players in the ODI and T20 sides had also lifted the fielding standards while there was more zest and energy to win matches.
Pakistan hammered Sri Lanka by 135 runs in the third ODI to take a 2-1 lead in the five match series which Pakistan must win to be in a good position to qualify for the 2017 Champions Trophy.
Asked whether senior batsman Umar Akmal would be considered for the T20 series in Sri Lanka after the selectors dropped him for the ODIs, the chief selector said this would be decided after consulting the T20 captain.
“But I think Umar now needs to decide himself how much focus he is going to give to cricket. How much he is going to change his attitude towards cricket. He now needs to start doing much more and we need to see a hunger in him to play for the national side.”
