Sri Lankan cricket captain Marvan Atapattu said on Monday he is learning to live without world record-holder Muttiah Muralitharan and his side would do its best in both the tri-series and the Tests in Pakistan.
"Obviously it's difficult to be without Muralitharan," Atapattu told a press conference.
"He is a world-class bowler and we miss him but having said that, others have also rallied around and we have managed to put in good performances."
Sri Lanka are featuring in a tri-series one-day tournament alongside hosts Pakistan and Zimbabwe, followed by two Tests against Pakistan.
They take on Pakistan in their first match in Karachi on Wednesday before facing Zimbabwe in two back-to-back games at Rawalpindi on October 9 and 11.
Off-spinner Muralitharan, who holds the world record of 532 wickets in 91 Tests, is recovering from a shoulder operation and is likely to return early next year.
Muralitharan has taken 68 wickets in 12 Tests against Pakistan, with 15 during their victory in a Test series here in 1995-96. He again led them to a series win with 26 wickets in 1999-2000.
Sri Lanka have shown they can win without Muralitharan, coach John Dyson said, adding that South African captain Graeme Smith knows this well.
"Ask Graeme Smith, he was surprised how we beat them in all five one-day games and in the last Test without Muralitharan recently," said Dyson.
Dyson, who took over as Sri Lankan coach last year, said his other target is to see Sri Lanka perform well away from home.
"Pakistan are a formidable side and have good players so they are favourites and as outsiders Zimbabwe have shown improvement since we last played them in their country in April," he said.
"We have played a lot of cricket in Sri Lanka so it's time to perform well outside home and we have good competition here with Pakistan and Zimbabwe."
Zimbabwe gave Sri Lanka a scare when the two sides met in the ICC Champions Trophy in England last month. Sri Lanka won that hard-fought game by four wickets.
"Zimbabweans are getting better and we have to be at our best but our main target is to play at our best and qualify for the final," said Atapattu.
The three teams face each other twice, with the top two meeting in the October 16 final.
Pakistan have beaten Zimbabwe in both their matches and are at the top of the table with 11 points while Zimbabwe have managed just one point.
After the tri-series, Sri Lanka play Pakistan in two Tests, at Faisalabad from October 20 and in Karachi from October 28.
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