Lanka-Pakistan clash in historic match

Sri Lanka ‘A’ and the touring Pakistan ‘A’ team will figure in a historic four day unofficial test match at the newly constructed Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium in Sooriyawewa, Hambantota commencing today.

This will be the first occasion where an international team will play at this venue in a first class encounter. This stadium in fact is one of the World Cup venues and will host two matches between Sri Lanka and Canada on February 20 and Kenya v Pakistan on February 23 next year. The first four day unofficial test match between Sri Lanka ‘A’ and Pakistan ‘A’ of course was disrupted by bad weather and ended in a tame draw at the Galle International Stadium.

Pakistan ‘A’ (from): Azeem Ghumamn (captain), Aamer Sajjad, Abid Ali, Asad Shafiq, Hammad Azam, Junaid Khan, Khuram Manzoor, Mohamed Irfan, Mohamed Talhar, Naeem Anjum, Naved Yazin, Sheharya Ghani, Tabish Khan, Yasir Shah, Zulfikar Baba.

Sri Lanka ‘A’ (from): Thilina Kandamby (captain), Kaushal Silva, Dinesh Chandimal, Nuwan Pradeep, Janaka Gunaratne, Dimuth Karunaratne, Kosala Kulasekera, Tharanga Lakshitha, Jeevan Mendis, Nadeera Nawala, Seekuge Prasanna, Ashan Priyanjan, Sachitra Senanayake, Lahiru Thirimanna, Chaminda Vidanapathirana. (C.D)