Intikhab warns team against complacency in Sri Lanka Test series

Karachi, Feb.7 (ANI): Pakistan's cricket coach Intikhab Alam has warned his players against any complacency during the forthcoming Test series with Sri Lanka, that might creep- up due to the islander team's drubbing by India in the on-going ODI series.

Alam said that Test matches are different from one day games, and Sri Lanka was capable of turning it around with several world-class players in their squad.

"Test cricket is a different ball game altogether. You can't predict the performance of a side in Test matches on the basis of its one-day showing, at least not Sri Lanka," The News quoted Alam, as saying.

He added that though India has defeated Sri Lanka in all the four games quite comprehensively, the Lankan's would be a different side altogether in the longer version of the game with the return of veteran left-arm fast bowler Chaminda Vaas.

"Sri Lanka has two of the best spinners in the world, Muttiah Muralitharan and Ajantha Mendis, and with Vaas returning, their bowling attack will be very strong," Alam said.

Referring to Pakistan's lack of playing Test cricket, he asked the players to shift their game plan from the fifty over match to the five day game.

"Our first target would be to switch off the one-day mode and get into the Test mode," Alam said.

Commenting on new skipperYounis Khan, Alam hoped that the team will perform cohesively under the new leader.

"Younis is a new captain and it would be good that he spends time with his players before the Tests. We would need a team effort to win the series and I'm confident that boys will gel behind Younis," he added. (ANI)