Pakistan choose to bat against Sri Lanka

Pakistan won the toss and decided to bat in their crucial World Cup Group A match against co-hosts Sri Lanka at Premadasa stadium here on Saturday.

Pakistan won the toss and decided to bat in their crucial World Cup Group A match against co-hosts Sri Lanka at Premadasa stadium here on Saturday.

Pakistan kept the same line-up that defeated Kenya by 205 runs at Hambantota on Wednesday.

Sri Lanka left out slinger Lasith Malinga who failed to fully recover from a back strain which forced him to miss the 210-run win against Canada on Sunday.

Chamara Kapugedera and Ajantha Mendis made way for Chamara Silva and left-arm spinner Rangana Herath.

Pakistan: Shahid Afridi (capt), Misbah-ul-Haq, Mohammad Hafeez, Kamran Akmal, Younis Khan, Umar Akmal, Abdul Razzaq, Abdur Rehman, Shoaib Akhtar, Umar Gul, Ahmed Shahzad.

Sri Lanka: Kumar Sangakkara (capt), Mahela Jayawardene, Upul Tharanga, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Thilan Samaraweera, Chamara Silva, Angelo Mathews, Thissara Perera, Nuwan Kulasekara, Muttiah Muralitharan, Rangana Herath.

Umpires: Daryl Harper (AUS) and Ian Gould (ENG)

TV umpire: Nigel Llong (ENG)

Match referee: Chris Broad (ENG)

Pitch conditions: The pitch at the Premedasa stadium is devoid of grass, brown in colour and hard. It is expcted to have good bounce and seam besides helping the spinners.

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