Kumar Sangakkara says Sri Lanka will not take http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 for granted
UPDATE: Pakistan (277 for 7) beat Sri Lanka (266 for 9) by 11 runs.
Sri Lanka team captain Kumar Sangakkara has said that they are well aware how dangerous the unpredictable Pakistan can be so they will not take the opposition for granted once they face their Asian rivals at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Saturday.
“Any opposition is wary of them (Pakistan) and we're not going to take anything lightly or for granted,” said the Sri Lanka wicketkeeper captain. “We understand how dangerous the Pakistani batsmen are and that's the beauty of playing a side like them.”
Both Sri Lanka and Pakistan have so far played against minnows in their first group matches sealing convincing victories with a colossal margin of more than 200 runs each. The Colombo clash would be a real test for the two outfits.
Sri Lanka vice captain Mahela Jayawardene echoed his skipper’s sentiments as he warned Pakistan are a dangerous team that the title contenders will be wary of in the ongoing ICC World Cup 2011.
Not too many cricket Pundits have tipped Pakistan as tournament favourites but the in-form Jayawardene, expressed astonishment over this lack of hype around the Pakistan team.
“I find it surprising that their name is not bandied about in the mix of potential World Cup winners as they have brilliant match winners with both bat and ball,” said the Lankan batsman who scored a quick hundred off just 80 balls against Canada- the fastest ever century made by a Sri Lanka player in the World Cups.
Pakistan has had a chaotic year coming into the World Cup in which they were beset by a number of controversies, the biggest one being the spot-fixing saga which saw three key Pakistan players being banned from international cricket for a minimum of five years each.
But the side began the 2011 season with a 3-2 One Day International series win over http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Kenya-c752 in their first group game of the mega event.
Sri Lanka, along with co-hosts http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Green-c60723 are equally accustomed to the Subcontinent conditions and will fare well.
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