Misbah concerned by experienced bowlers’ absence in final Test

PALLEKELE: Misbah-ul-Haq hoped his team will be inspired by Sri Lanka´s comeback in Colombo after being routed in the first Test.

"We are definitely going into the Test determined to win and we have the example of Sri Lanka, the way they bounced back," Misbah said.

Misbah will be concerned by his bowlers´ inability to support leg-spinner Yasir Shah and the batting debacle in the first innings in Colombo when they slipped from 74-2 to 138 all out.

Shah is the most successful bowler in the series from either side with 17 wickets, but Pakistan´s next best is left-arm spinner Zulfiqar Babar with six wickets.

Worse, pace spearhead Wahab Riaz is injured and off-spinner Mohammad Hafeez is not available since he needs to undergo mandatory tests after being reported for a suspect action in Galle.

The tourists may drop seamer Junaid Khan, who has taken just one wicket in the series, and pick two from Rahat Ali, Imran Khan and Ehsan Adil to share the new ball.

Sri Lanka, by contrast, appear a more settled bowling unit as they head to a venue where all three previous Tests have been drawn.

Seamer Dhammika Prasad dominated the Colombo Test with seven wickets, debutant off-spinner Tharindu Kaushal claimed five wickets in the first innings and fast bowler Dushmantha Chameera produced fiery bursts.

Leading spinner Rangana Herath, who was expected to be Pakistan´s chief tormenter after grabbing 23 scalps in two Tests against them last year, has managed only two wickets this time.

"Even if he´s not getting wickets, he´s preventing batsmen from getting quick runs," said Mathews, defending the veteran spinner. (AFP)