New Delhi, 08 November (H.S.): A two-match Test series between Pakistan and Sri Lanka is set to begin on Monday at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium in Pakistan. Ahead of the opening encounter, Sri Lanka’s newly appointed Test captain, Kusal Mendis, has expressed confidence in his experienced batting line-up, asserting that his team is fully prepared to cope with whatever conditions they encounter in Pakistan.

According to Cricbuzz, speaking to reporters ahead of the first Test, Mendis expressed confidence in his team's ability to perform well even on pitches that favour fast bowlers, which would be markedly different from the spin-friendly surfaces Pakistan has generally produced in recent years.

“Our batting line-up is very strong, with several senior players in the side. Everyone knows how to play on green pitches. We also performed very well in England, so I have complete confidence in our batting line-up,” Mendis said.

Mendis is taking charge of the Sri Lankan team in the Test format for the first time. He assumed the responsibility in early October, replacing Dhananjaya de Silva as captain.

Sri Lanka have already been in Pakistan for more than a month, where they have played white-ball cricket, including One-Day Internationals and T20 matches. Mendis acknowledged that the extended schedule had taken a toll on the players.

“To be honest, Test cricket is quite different from ODIs and T20s. I think most players enjoy playing Test cricket, and I do too. I am very happy to be leading the team in this format. We have been in Pakistan for more than a month, and it has not been easy. At times, we simply remain in the hotel and step out for practice. Staying in a hotel for an entire month can be challenging, but we try to keep ourselves entertained by doing various activities in the team room, such as playing games and engaging in other recreational activities,” he said.

Mendis emphasised that the team would need to concentrate on its Test cricket and prepare carefully for the challenges of playing away from home.

“As far as Test cricket is concerned, we need to focus on our game. Playing Test matches away from home is never easy. I believe Pakistan will provide a very good pitch, and we already have a plan for how we intend to approach the game,” he said.

The Sri Lankan captain also described his side as a well-balanced unit, with considerable strength in both batting and bowling. He said the team had performed particularly well with the ball on its recent tours, a trend that had also continued in limited-overs cricket.

“Our fast-bowling attack has been doing a good job. We have a well-balanced team, and both our batting and bowling departments are strong. Everyone is ready for tomorrow’s match,” Mendis said.

---------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar