Akhtar returns, Lanka bat in Asia Cup

Updated on: 6/15/2010

DAMBULLA: Sri Lanka elected to bat against Pakistan in the opening match of the Asia Cup Tuesday.

The tournament also features other Asian test-playing nations- India and Bangladesh.

Speedster Shoaib Akhtar has returned to play with the Pakistani team.

Shoaib Malik also rejoined the team after the year-long ban on him was lifted.

Malik will be playing under a new leader, Shahid Afridi, who accused Malik of back-biting some time back.

Pakistan has won the Asia Cup once in the past.

Sri Lanka is looking for a third consecutive Asia Cup title, having won the previous two editions in 2004 and 2008. But this time around, the team will be without star batsman Sanath Jayasuriya and spin bowler Ajantha Mendis, whose efforts won them the cup in 2008.

Teams:

Sri Lanka: Kumar Sangakkara (captain), Muttiah Muralitharan, Mahela Jayawardene, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Upul Tharanga, Thilan Samaraweera, Angelo Mathews, Farveez Maharoof, Chamara Kapugedera, Nuwan Kulasekara, Lasith Malinga.

Pakistan: Shahid Afridi (captain), Salman Butt, Shahzaib Hasan, Shoaib Malik, Umar Akmal, Kamran Akmal, Abdul Razzaq, Umar Amin, Shoaib Akhtar, Mohammad Asif, Mohammad Aamir. AGENCIES