Pakistan and Sri lanka will ring in several changes, most of them forced on them, in a bid to win the decisive third and final Test starting in Pallekele on Friday.
Both sides are pulling out all the stops to break the 1-1 deadlock after Pakistan won the first Test by 10 wickets and Sri lanka responded with a seven-wicket victory in the second.
Sri lanka will take the field without their batting greats, the retired Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara, who had committed himself to playing just two Tests against Pakistan and two more against India in August before retiring.
“It’s a strange experience to be without Mahela and Sanga, but we have some good young players who are ready to step in,” vice-captain lahiru Thirimanne said.
Fast bowler Dushmantha Chameera, who suffered a side strain on his debut in the second Test in Colombo, will undergo a fitness test before he is picked.
Sri lanka are planning a three-man pace attack, instead of two as in the previous Tests, on a greenish Pallekele stadium pitch that should favour seam movement.
Pakistan are forced to make two changes, with pace spearhead Wahab Riaz ruled out because of injury and all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez not available since he has to undergo mandatory tests after being reported for a suspect action in the first Test.
“At least we have 11 players to pick from,” skipper Misbah-ul Haq said on Thursday. “Every player here representing Pakistan is good enough to take anyone’s place.”
left hander Shan Masood is likely to replace Hafeez at the top of the order and left-arm seamer Rahat Ali could come in for Wahab, but Misbah said the team had not been finalised.
“This is the best chance for us to beat Sri lanka because they are without their big players like Jayawardene and Sangakkara. It’s an opportunity we do not want to miss.”