Pakistan can cope with Malinga's threat: Misbah

Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq is confident his side can overcome the threat of Sri Lanka fast bowler Lasith Malinga when the One-Day International (ODI) and Twenty20 International (T20I) series starts at Dubai Sports City on Friday.

Malinga is the only man to have taken three hat-tricks in ODIs and needs just one more wicket to reach 150 in international 50-over matches.

But Misbah said his players are ready for the challenge posed by the diminutive bowler with the slinging action.

"It creates a difference when Lasith Malinga's there because everybody knows he's a very good bowler, but we're ready for that," he said.

"We've played a lot of games against him and I think our guys have played very well against him."

That belief is borne out by figures from Malinga's 10 previous matches against Pakistan in ODIs which have seen him collect just nine wickets at an average of 47.66 each.

But the 28 year-old is still on the verge of becoming the quickest Sri Lanka bowler to reach 150 wickets in the format, with Friday set to be his 95th match. The current holder of the mark is spinner Muttiah Muralidaran, who took 110 games to secure 150 victims.

"No doubt it's an edge for them to have Lasith Malinga in the side but if we look at our side we have Shahid Afridi and we also have some very good cricketers back too," said Misbah.

"Of course, it's a different ball game (after the three-match Test series that Pakistan won 1-0) but guys who are coming back (for Pakistan) have played a lot of one-day cricket and they know what to do, so we're ready.

"Sri Lanka is a very good team but our team is ready to do well and we're just focusing on the one-day series now," he added.

The series then moves to Sharjah (20 November) and Abu Dhabi (23 and 25 November).

Misbah's pre-series media conference in English and Urdu, as well as audio clips, is available at www.audioboo.fm. Just type DSC into the search engine in the top right-hand corner of the Audioboo homepage to access them. They are free for editorial use.

One definite advantage for Pakistan as far as Misbah was concerned was that the first three matches of the series are taking place at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

"The atmosphere, the stadium - it's really good to play here," he said. "Normally you feel the heat playing in the UAE but in this stadium in particular, the way it's built, it's really good for the players and you don't feel that heat.

"The atmosphere's really good with the way the stands are built, everybody loves to play here and it's a real plus point for our team," Misbah added.

Sri Lanka coach Geoff Marsh said he believed his side should be classed as favourites for the series - an idea backed up by the ICC rankings which see Sri Lanka in second place behind leaders Australia while Pakistan is languishing in sixth spot.

"We like to think we've got the edge but we've got to go out and prove that," said Marsh.

"We believe we're a very good one-day side but once the game arrives then we've got to go out and play good one-day cricket. We know we've got to play really well to beat them."

Marsh also played down any hint of unhappiness over Chairman of Selectors Duleep Mendis's recent comments which were critical of the players and backroom staff.

"I only read the first couple of lines, I didn't read the rest," he said. "It's something that got written but I don't know about it.

"I'm really enjoying my job. The Sri Lanka players are a great bunch of lads and they all work really hard. They've set long and short-term goals and we are working towards reaching them."

Tickets for the matches in Dubai start from just AED25 and are available by ?phone and online from Box Office ME, Time Out Dubai and the Ticketing Co., as well as numerous outlets in Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi, with details available at http://www.dubaisportscity.ae/articledisplay.asp?id=78

Provision has been made for Jumma Prayers at 1220, very close to the stadium, and there will be signs directing people to the area where they will take place.

The three ODI matches between Pakistan and Sri Lanka at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium are all part of 34 days of international action as DSC hosts its biggest season of cricket since the venue opened in 2009.

Already the Dubai International Cricket Stadium has staged the second Test of the three-match series between Pakistan and Sri Lanka, with Pakistan winning that encounter by nine wickets.

And after the forthcoming ODI series, England arrives in January 2012 to face Pakistan in two Tests, two ODIs and two T20Is over a two-month period.

In March 2012 the Dubai International Cricket Stadium will host matches in the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier.