GALLE: Pakistan captain Babar Azam said he expects spin to dominate the two-Test series against Sri Lanka which opens with the first game at Galle from Saturday.

Dimuth Karunaratne’s Sri Lanka, meanwhile, will be looking to build on their winning momentum at Galle with cricket having been a welcome distraction around the island nation’s political unrest and unprecedented economic crisis.

Sri Lanka head into the series after two contrasting results in Galle where they first lost to Australia on a vicious turner and then bounced back to hammer the tourists on Monday.

“It is a typical spinning wicket and that’s what we saw in the series against Australia,” Babar said during the pre-match press conference on Friday with Pakistan having brought back veteran spinner Yasir Shah for the series.

“Any team would be difficult at home as they know the conditions,” he added. “They have some experienced spinners in their side, so we are looking forward to play good cricket against them.”

Babar praised the 36-year-old Yasir, who claimed 24 wickets in the team’s previous Test win in Sri Lanka seven years ago, for making a comeback.

“Definitely he has made a good comeback and the way he has prepared and worked on his fitness,” said Babar. “The way he bowled in Rawalpindi and then in the practice game in Colombo was good. He is an experienced bowler and will be tough for the opposition.”

With Yasir set to play his first Test since August 2021, Pakistan announced later on Friday that all-rounders Mohammad Nawaz and Salman Ali Agha will also be part of the playing XI.

While Nawaz, primarily a spinner, last played a Test in November 2016, Salman will make his Test debut on the back of strong domestic performances. The 28-year-old is a batter who bowls off-spin.

Babar also shared that the tourists were being looked after really well by Sri Lanka Cricket and security forces amid country-wide protests following political unrest.

Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickrem­esinghe, who is the acting President, declared Emer­gency in the island nation as protests grew hours after it emerged that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa had fled the country.

“We didn’t feel unsafe here because we have been looked after so well by Sri Lanka Cricket and security forces,” Babar said. “We also played a warm-up game here and there weren’t any hurdles that made us feel unsafe. So, I think we should now focus on just our game.”

Babar has been in roaring form with the bat and recently hit 196 against Australia in the team’s home series, which they ended up losing 1-0 in March.

Openers Abdullah Shafique and Imam-ul-Haq have also been among the runs while Pakistan boast a dangerous bowling attack led by ace quick Shaheen Shah Afridi.

Sri Lankan skipper Karunaratne admitted Pakistan will be tougher opposition than Australia in the two Tests but believes playing in Galle for the third straight time will be an advantage for the hosts.

“They’re a different team. Good against spin as well,” Karunaratne said on Friday. “Previously, they have done pretty good in the Test level. We have to do our basics well if we want to keep them restricted.”

Karunaratne informed that Dhananjaya de Silva will return to the team after recovering from Covid-19.

De Silva, a batting all-rounder who was one of four players to get the virus before and during the second Test against Australia.

De Silva replaces Kamindu Mendis, who made an impressive 61 on debut in the previous match.

“Oshada Fernando will open the innings with me. Dhananjaya De Silva takes his place back and we’ll have to look again who is batting at five and six,” Karunaratne said. “I mean Dhananjaya or [Dinesh] Chandimal. Because Chandi is in good form after playing at number five.”

Chandimal hit an unbeaten 206 before left-arm spinner Prabath Jayasuriya returned a match haul of 12 wickets on debut as the hosts beat Australia by an innings and 39 runs to end the series level at 1-1.

Crucial World Test Championship points will be on offer in the series, with Sri Lanka moving to third place after the Australia win and Pakistan at four in the current table.

“It’s good to see that we’re higher up after playing a good series,” said Karun­aratne. “If we can win both Test matches, we have a good chance of playing in the WTC final [next year]. But I am trying to play one by one.”

Teams:

SRI LANKA’S 12: Oshada Fernando, Dimuth Karunaratne (capt), Kusal Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal, Dhananjaya de Silva, Niroshan Dickwella (wk), Ramesh Mendis, Maheesh Theekshana, Prabath Jayasuriya, Kasun Rajitha, Asitha Fernando.

PAKISTAN’S XI: Babar Azam (capt), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Abdullah Shafique, Azhar Ali, Hasan Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Nawaz, Naseem Shah, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Yasir Shah.

Published in Dawn, July 16th, 2022