The Two-match series between Pakistan and Sri Lanka starts, today on Friday at Hambantota.

Both teams will test each other's strengths ahead of the World Twenty20 tournament later this year when they clash in a two-match series starting on Friday.

Pakistan's newly appointed captain of the Twenty20 squad, Mohammad Hafeez, who replaced Misbah-ul-Haq, said his team was prepared to face the challenge of tackling Sri Lanka in their own backyard.

"Sri Lanka are always a tough opponent, especially at home, but we are well-prepared despite not having played international cricket recently," said Hafeez.

"The boys have worked really hard on their game in the last few weeks and are confident of doing well."

The rivals have played seven Twenty20 internationals so far, with Pakistan winning five and Sri Lanka two.

Sri Lanka's experienced campaigner and captain Mahela Jaywardane said that, "With the World T20 coming up in a few months, this series against Pakistan is very important for us."

"We're using these two games to find the right combination so we will mix and match. We need to make a statement in this series."

Several Sri Lankan stars like Jayawardene, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Kumar Sangakkara and Lasith Malinga played in the cash-rich Twenty20 event in India that ended last Sunday.

But the Pakistanis, who won the World Twenty20 title in England in 2009, have been kept out of the IPL after the inaugural edition in 2008 reportedly over security fears. The absence of Pakistani players from the Indian Premier League (IPL) could give Sri Lanka the initial advantage at the start of the tour that also includes five one-day internationals and three Test matches.

Pakistan played their last Twenty20 international in February when they lost a three-match series 2-1 to England in the United Arab Emirates, and they then played in the one-day Asia Cup in Bangladesh in March.

Pakistan (from): Mohammad Hafeez (captain), Khalid Latif, Ahmed Shehzad, Shoaib Malik, Umar Akmal, Shakeel Ansar, Shahid Afridi, Yasir Arafat, Umar Gul, Sohail Tanveer, Saeed Ajmal, Raza Hasan, Haris Sohail, Mohammad Sami, Hammad Azam.

Sri Lanka (from): Mahela Jayawardene (captain), Tillakaratne Dilshan, Kumar Sangakkara, Dinesh Chandimal, Angelo Mathews, Lahiru Thirimanne, Kaushal Lokuarachchi, Thisara Perera, Nuwan Kulasekera, Sachithra Senanayake, Lasith Malinga, Chamara Kapugedera, Upul Tharanga, Isuru Udana.

AFP