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Cricket

Pakistan, Sri Lanka gear up for first T20

Dunya News

The first Twenty20 between Pakistan and Sri Lanka will be played today in Hambantota, Sri Lanka.

Hosts Sri Lanka will swing into ICC World Twenty20 mood as they take on Pakistan in a two-match international series with both teams looking to move up in the ICC T20 Championship table.Todays match marks the start of a series between Sri Lanka and Pakistan that will encompass another Twenty20 at the same venue, five one-day internationals and three Test matches.Sri Lanka, who will host ICC World Twenty20, need to win the series 2-0 if they are to move up from third place in the ICC T20 Championship table.The two teams will also be keen to get some good match practice ahead of the World Twenty20 to be held from September 18 to October 7 in Colombo, Pallekele and Hambantota later this year.Mahela Jayawardenes side has the opportunity to rise to second in the table, and usurp South Africa who currently occupy second place, if the 2-0 scenario occurs.Sri Lankas ratings points would rise to 124, while Pakistans would drop to 107 and put the latter in seventh place just above India when the points are calculated to within the decimal point.If Pakistan, the ICC World Twenty20 2009 champions, beat Sri Lanka 2-0 in the series, then newly appointed Twenty20 captain Mohammad Hafeez would see his side move up to fourth, one ratings point behind New Zealand.Should Sri Lanka lose the series 2-0, they would see the ICC World Twenty20 2009 runners-up drop to sixth in the Championship table, just below Australia when the points are calculated to within the decimal point.If both matches are tied, neither side will move up or down the table, while if one match is tied and Sri Lanka win the other match, Pakistan will drop to sixth in the table after losing two ratings points.If the scenario is reversed and Pakistan win one match, while the other is tied, this visitors will remain fifth, while hosts Sri Lanka will drop to fourth in the table.