Rain threat to Pak-Lanka Test

The visitors won the first Test in Rawalpindi by two wickets after a close finish. “Akram has fully recovered from the injury and so has Shoaib and if the bad weather goes away, we are confident we can square the series,” Pakistan coach Intikhab Alam said.

Akram bowled only 13 deliveries in the first Test before suffering groin injury but hit a fighting 79 in the second innings to help his side avert innings defeat.

“See this is a crunch match for us and the way the boys lifted their performance I am sure we can level the series,” Alam said.

Overnight rain left the Arbab Niaz stadium soggy and the ground staff were working to clear the water. Wicketkeeper Moin Khan and off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq are doubtful starters for the Test.

Khan had an MRI scan of his left knee while Mushtaq had dehydration problems. Uncapped Atiq-uz Zaman, 21, will replace Khan if he is ruled out.

Pakistan have lost four Tests in a row. They were blanked 3-0 in the Test series in Australia last year.

The Sri Lankans will miss former captain Arjuna Ranatunga from their line-up after fracturing his left thumb.

Ranatunga helped his team scrap through to win on the final day of the first Test, scoring a painstaking 29 not out and partnering Romesh Kaluwitharana in a valiant 43-run ninth wicket stand. His place is likely to go to right handed batsman Tillekeratne Dilshan who hit a mature 163 in only his second Test against Zimbabwe last year.

“Bad weather is not good for anyone but it happens, we will still try our best to do one better than what we have done till now,” said Sri Lankan coach Dav Whatmore, whose team beat Pakistan 3-0 in a One-day series before the Test series.

The pitch at the ground here traditionally helps fast bowlers and with Akram and Akhtar back, Pakistan is likely to play with four seamers. Off-spinner Arshad Khan and leg-spinning all-rounder Shahid Afridi will vie for the last spot.

TEAM

Pakistan: Saeed Anwer (capt), Aamir Sohail, Wajahatullah Wasti, Shahid Afridi, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Younis Khan, Yousuf Youhanna, Moin Khan, Wasim Akram, Arshad Khan, Saqlain Mushtaq, Shoaib Akhtar, Mohammad Akram, Atiq-uz Zaman, Mohammad Naveed, Shahid Nazir, Waqar Younis and Abdur Razzak.

Sri Lanka: Sanath Jayasuriya (capt), Marvan Atapattu, Russel Arnold, Mahela Jayawardene, Aravinda de Silva, Tillekeratne Dilshan, Chaminda Vaas, Romesh Kaluwitharanna, Muttiah Muralitharan, Idika de Saram, Nuwan Zoysa, Upul Chandana, Ravindra Pushpakumara, Rangana Herath, Pramodya Wickremasinghe and Indika Gallage

Umpires: John Hampshire (England) and Mohammad Nazir (Pakistan).