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Sri Lanka v Pakistan, 2nd Test, Kandy
Sri Lanka aim to send Jayasuriya off in style
April 1, 2006
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Sri Lanka are hoping to give Sanath Jayasuriya a memorable farewell to Test cricket
© AFP
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Sri Lanka are hoping to give their former skipper, Sanath Jayasuriya, a grand farewell by winning the second and final Test against Pakistan, which starts at Kandy on Monday. Jayasuriya, 36, Sri Lanka's highest run-scorer in both Test cricket and one-day internationals, announced his retirement from Tests on Friday.
Trevor Penney, Sri Lanka's assistant coach, said: "We haven't beaten Pakistan for 20 years at home. It is going to be the last Test for Sanath and he deserves a grand send-off for what he has been for cricket."
Penney, who took charge after Tom Moody, the senior coach, flew to England to attend the funeral of his father-in-law, said the team would miss Jayasuriya, who will continue to play one-dayers. "We won't be doing anything drastically different but just stick to the basics and try to come up with a good show."
Jayasuriya, meanwhile, has confirmed that he will retire from all cricket following the World Cup. "Not playing test cricket will help me keep fit and allow me to play on until next year's World Cup. I will definitely retire from all cricket after that tournament."
The opening Test ended in a draw in Colombo after Sri Lanka set an improbable 458-run target for Pakistan, who played out over four sessions to save the match. The home side will not be risking Chaminda Vaas, who is recovering from a side strain and have named an unchanged squad.
Penney added: "He has sort of recovered but we don't want to risk him in a match situation. The idea is to give him plenty of rest and recovery period and have him fit for the upcoming England tour."
Nuwan Kulasekara, the young seamer, is expected to come in for Dilhara Fernando, who failed to take a wicket in the first match. Sri Lanka were also likely to field the uncapped left-arm spinner, Sajeeva Weerakoon, in place of Malinga Bandara.
For Pakistan Mohammad Yousuf, who missed the first Test with a hamstring injury, has recovered although Abdul Razzaq is battling to be fit after suffering a knee injury. Pakistan have a selection dilemma as they will have to leave out Faisal Iqbal, who put up a match-saving partnership with Shoaib Malik in the first Test.
Inzamam-ul-Haq said: "I was impressed with the way the youngsters performed. I am always happy when there is a problem in selection because it means there is competition."
Sri Lanka (from) Mahela Jayawardene (capt), Kumar Sangakkara (wk), Sanath Jayasuriya, Upul Tharanga, Michael Vandort, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Thilan Samaraweera, Chamara Kapugedera, Farveez Maharoof, Lasith Malinga, Nuwan Kulasekara, Dilhara Fernando, Muttiah Muralitharan, Malinga Bandara, Sajeewa Weerakoon.
Pakistan (from) Inzamam-ul-Haq (capt), Younis Khan, Mohammad Yousuf, Abdul Razzaq, Shahid Afridi, Shoaib Malik, Kamran Akmal (wk), Salman Butt, Danish Kaneria, Rao Iftikhar, Imran Farhat, Faisal Iqbal, Umar Gul, Mohammad Asif, Arshad Khan.
© AFP
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