Sri Lanka holds edge over Pakistan in T20 series

Sri Lanka, currently ranked at number 3 in the ICC T20, holds the edge over Pakistan in the two match T20 series starting at Sooriyawewa, on Friday, June 1. The two teams will play the second match of the series on June 3, at the same venue. Sri Lanka and Pakistan will be keen to get some good match practice ahead of the ICC World T20 tournament which runs from 18 September to 7 October in Sri Lanka, later this year. Sri Lanka will need to win the series, 2-0 if it is to move up from third place in the Reliance ICC T20 Championship table.

Mahela Jayawardena’s side has the opportunity to rise to second in the table, and usurp South Africa which currently occupies second place, if the 2-0 scenario occurs. Sri Lanka’s ratings points would rise to 124 while Pakistan’s would drop to 107 and put the latter in seventh place just above India when the points are calculated to within the decimal point.
On the other way round, if Pakistan, the ICC World Twenty20 2009 champions, beat Sri Lanka 2-0 in the series, then newly appointed Twenty20 captain Mohammad Hafeez would see his side move up to fourth, one ratings point behind New Zealand. According to the Reliance ICC Player Rankings for T20 batsmen , Sri Lanka captain Jayawardane is the highest ranked batsman involved in the series, He is currently ranked 5thwhile compatriots Tillakaratne Dilshan (6th) and Kumar Sangakkara (8th) are not far behind the diminutive batsman.
However, it's a pity that Ajantha Mendis, currently ranked 2ndamong the T20 bowlers, is not featuring in the series due to a back injury. It gives Pakistan’s Saeed Ajmal, currently third on the list, the perfect opportunity to overtake the Sri Lanka bowler.