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Skipper Atapattu sidelined with back injury
Kapugedera likely to fill the vacant openers berth
By S.R. Pathiravithana
Pinch hitter Chamara Kapugedera may get the nod over tentative Jehan Mubarak today in the second one-day international which is scheduled to get underway at the R. Premadasa Stadium, this morning.

This scenario took stage when skipper Marvan Atapattu’s back injury recurred while fielding on Friday’s first ODI which ended in a sad washout after Sri Lanka had limited the strong visitors to 201 for 8 in their allotted 50 overs. Atapattu will not take part in the rest of the series.

On Friday Sri Lanka in spite of going in to the match minus three stalwarts – Sanath Jayasuriya, Chaminda Vaas and Ruchira Perera came up with an impressive show with the youngsters Farveez Maharoof and Kaushal Lokuarachchi excelling. Maharoof who did not impress during his Bangladesh excursion came up with a fine display of medium pace bowling by capturing 3 for 24 while leg spinner Kaushal Lokuarachchi did not let the selectors down by finishing with figures of 3 for 47.

According to reliable sources today if Kapugedera gets the nod over Mubarak, he will join another youngster – Upul Tharanga who is gradually converting himself into a regular feature in the Sri Lankan final Xl.

It is also interesting to see how stand in skipper Mahela Jayawardena is going to call with his toss as he has made it almost a habit of losing them.
On their part Pakistan too will be under pressure to come out with a better performance with the bat on the Premadasa wicket which generally helps the batsmen. However it is very unlikely that they effect any changes to the final Xl from the one which took the crease on Friday.

Meanwhile with the monsoon rains hampering the proceedings of the tour, the Lankan cricket authorities have mooted to have two reserve days for today’s match and Tuesday’s match. If they do get the nod from the Pakistan authorities for the new arrangement, the 3rd ODI will be played on the 22nd March at the SSC.

Sri Lanka from: Mahela Jayawardena (Captain), Chamara Kapugedera, Upul Tharanga, Jehan Mubarak, Kumar Sangakkara (wk), Tillekeratne Dilshan, Russel Arnold, Farveez Maharoof, Malinga Bandara, Muttiah Muralitharan, Nuwan Kulasekera, Kaushal Lokuarachchi, Lasith Malinga and Dhammika Prasad.

Pakistan From: Inzamam-ul-Haq (Captain), Younis Khan, Mohammed Yousuf, Abdul Razzaq, Shahid Afridi, Sohaib Malik, Sohaib Malik, Kamran Akmal (wk), Salman Butt. Dinesh Kaneria, Naved-ul-Hassan, Imran Farhat, Faisal Iqbal, Umar Gul, Mohammed Asif, Abdur Rehman and Thahir Khan.

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