Wounded Pakistan eye to turn the tables against Sri Lanka tonight

• Pakistan look for a strong comeback against Sri Lanka after suffering a humiliating loss in first match.
• Men in Green batsmen failed to chase 166 runs target in first T20I as the entire team collapsed at just 101 runs.

After Pakistan, the top ranked T20I side, were thrashed by Sri Lanka in the first T20I this weekend, the team will now be eyeing to make a comeback against the visitors in the second T20I tonight at Gaddafi Stadium Lahore. 

The hosts lost the game by some 64 runs in a relatively low-scoring game on Saturday, owing to the harrowing performance with the bat as some eight batsmen were unable to enter double figures, allowing Sri Lanka to reduce the Men in Green on just 101 runs in their chase of 166 runs target.

Pakistan head coach-cum-chief selector Misbah-ul-Haq admitted that poor batting performance led to the side's defeat. “I admit that our team couldn’t bat well in power play, that’s why they have to struggle hard to win the match, but they failed in doing so. In the remaining matches, it is hoped that our batsmen will utilize the power play well through their sensible batting and powerful hitting,” Misbah said.

The team would now aim to make things even and would need to do some thinking after both returning players Ahmed Shehzad and Umar Akmal failed to impress with figures of 4 and 0, respectively. Skipper  Sarfaraz Ahmed too would need to revive his batting form.

However, the bowling line looks stable with the newbie speedster Mohammad Hasnain rising high after he grabbed a hat-trick in the first T20I becoming only the ninth bowler to do so.

Pakistan team training session at the GSL on the eve of second #PAKvSL T20I in Lahore. pic.twitter.com/YJIJLO0PQr

— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) 6 October 2019

With the three-match T20I series 1-0 in favor of Sri Lanka, the Men in Green would need to get their act straight in the second T20I at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore.

Squads:

Pakistan: Babar Azam, Ahmed Shehzad, Umar Akmal, Sarfaraz Ahmed(Capt), Iftikhar Ahmed, Asif Ali, Imad Wasim, Faheem Ashraf, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Hasnain, Haris Sohail, Mohammad Nawaz, Usman Shinwari, Fakhar Zaman, Wahab Riaz

Sri Lanka: Danushka Gunathilaka, Avishka Fernando, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Dasun Shanaka(Capt), Shehan Jayasuriya, Isuru Udana, Wanindu Hasaranga, Minod Bhanuka(w), Lakshan Sandakan, Kasun Rajitha, Nuwan Pradeep, Angelo Perera, Lahiru Madushanka, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Lahiru Kumara, Oshada Fernando