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Pakistan's cricket team left for Sri Lanka on a 45-day tour with Coach Intikhab Alam promising that his players will translate their World Twenty20 win into a forceful Test performance.
The players left in two different batches from Karachi and Lahore but are scheduled to assemble in Dubai en route to Colombo where they will feature in a three-day practise game from June 29.
Skipper Younis Khan left from Karachi along with Umar Gul, Fawad Alam, Faisal Iqbal and Khurram Manzoor while the other players flew out of Lahore on Saturday.
Intikhab said that his batsmen will perform well for getting good results on the tour that ends on Aug 12. He also stressed that the fitness of players will be the key role in the series, since the weather in Sri Lanka will be hot, making playing conditions difficult.
Replying to a query about controversial pacer Shoaib Akhtar, Intikhab said he needs more focus on his fitness so as to return to the team.
Intikhab said that his batsmen will perform well for getting good results on the tour that ends on Aug 12. He also stressed that the fitness of players will be the key role in the series, since the weather in Sri Lanka will be hot, making playing conditions difficult.
Replying to a query about controversial pacer Shoaib Akhtar, Intikhab said he needs more focus on his fitness so as to return to the team.
Wicketkeeper-batsman Kamran Akmal told reporters that fans would get quality cricket as both the teams have world class players.
Senior all-rounder Abdul Razzaq termed Pakistan as favourite for the series and has promised to give his best.
Pakistan will play three Test matches, five one-day internationals and one Twenty20 International during its first full-length tour since the 2007 tour of India.
