Pak mulls 'lively wicket' to neutralise Lankan double 'M' menace

Karachi, Feb.18 (ANI): To counter Sri Lankan spin duo of Muttiah Muralitharan and Ajantha Mendis, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has decided to prepare a 'lively wicket' to assist fast bowlers for the first Test match beginning here from February 21.

Pakistan coach Intikhab Alam has said the team management would prefer some 'fresh grass' on the National Stadium pitch

"It would be good to have a lively wicket with the ball coming to the bat properly. We would like to see some grass on the pitch so that the fast bowlers can get help from it," The News quoted, Alam, as saying.

Pakistan which would be taking on the mighty Lankan spin attack with only one specialist spinner, leggie Danish Kaneria, also lacks experience in the fast bowling department with no Shoaib Akhtar or Mohammad Asif available for their services.

Alam expressed hope that the inexperienced pace attack would perform according to their capability during the series.

"We have some good fast bowlers like Umar Gul, Yasir Arafat and the uncapped Sohail Khan and Mohammad Talha. They have the potential to shine against the tourists," he said.

Alam said his team was fully focused on its task, and would offer the islanders some stiff competition during the series under the new captain Younis Khan.

"No doubt it is a big challenge as Sri Lanka is a very good Test side. But we have the best possible team and all the boys are completely charged up which is why I'm confident it is going to be a good series," Alam said. (ANI)