KARACHI, Jan 18: Sri Lanka skipper Mahela Jayawardene on Sunday predicted a tough one-day cricket series against Pakistan while hoping that his team would put up a better display with the bat after encountering problems in Bangladesh.

Addressing a press conference shortly after arriving with the squad from Dhaka, the affable Jayawardene said Pakistan were always a dangerous side on home soil.

“It’s always a big challenge to play [against] Pakistan in Pakistan because they are generally very good in familiar environment. You can never feel comfortable playing against them because they have a number of match-winners who on the given day can take the game away from you,” he said.

Jayawardene expected Sri Lanka, the Asia Cup champions, to put up a better display in the three-match series after their batsmen found the going extremely tough during the just-ended triangular tournament in Dhaka where they won the final by two wickets after a horrendous collapse.

Sri Lanka also lost to Bangladesh in the last league match.

“I think we have been still winning matches, we haven’t lost any. I don’t recall having seen a side being five wickets down for six runs and still winning the match. It [victory in Dhaka] showed the character of our team,” the skipper pointed out.

“I’m very proud of the way we fought back and the guys contributing. It is a special achievement against any side, including Bangladesh.

“The pitches in Dhaka were not conducive for batting, but I guess, that is no excuse to perform below the expectations. We are much better than the scores in that tournament indicated.”

Jayawardene downplayed the impact of emerging spin sensation Ajantha Mendis, who is being regarded as the major threat for Pakistan in the coming matches.

According to the Sri Lankan captain the 23-year-old Mendis does not carry extra burden of having to perform at the top of his game all the time.

“Ajantha is apparently relishing the challenges that he has come across. Pressure doesn’t seem to affect him because he’s a very modest chap who doesn’t have to go through interviews such as this because his English is not that great. Off the field, he spends time in his room watching movies,” Jayawardene revealed.

“The best thing about Ajantha is that he knows what his role is. And with a legend like Muttiah [Muralitharan] around, he has got a splendid role model to emulate. Because Murali is someone who has been playing international cricket for nearly 17 years and has performed very well. If Ajantha becomes conscious of that I’m sure we will have a big match-winner for Sri Lanka over the next 10 years.”

Jayawardene, meanwhile, said that Sri Lanka feel no apprehension over Pakistan’s security and added his team always felt safe and secure about playing here.

“Pakistan has always supported us whenever we found ourselves in a crisis. We feel the same for them and that’s why we have no problems regarding playing here. We had a great time during the Asia Cup in June and July last year and enjoyed every moment of it,” the Sri Lankan skipper remarked.

Meanwhile, in an unprecedented move, the Pakistan Cricket Board chairman, Ijaz Butt, was on hands to receive the Sri Lankan tourists at the Quaid-i-Azam International Airport which clearly portrayed how desperate Pakistan are to play hosts to a major team in a bilateral series.

Seasoned campaigner Sanath Jayasuriya wasn’t seen with the Sri Lankan contingent since he was already resting at the team’s hotel having landed in the city early in the morning from Doha.

The first two one-dayers will be played here on Tuesday and Wednesday with the final game in Lahore on Saturday.