Pakistani cricket team in Sri Lanka in 1996–97

The Pakistan national cricket team toured Sri Lanka from 16 to 30 April 1997. The tour included two Tests between Sri Lanka and Pakistan. Pakistan also played a first-class against Sri Lanka Board XI. The Test series ended in a draw with both matches drawn.

Pakistan cricket team in Sri Lanka in 1996–97
 
  Sri Lanka Pakistan
Dates 16 – 30 April 1997
Captains Arjuna Ranatunga Ramiz Raja
Test series
Result 2-match series drawn 0–0
Most runs Aravinda de Silva (432) Saleem Malik (237)
Most wickets Chaminda Vaas (7) Saqlain Mushtaq (14)
Player of the series Aravinda de Silva (SL)

Squads edit

  Sri Lanka   Pakistan[1]

Pakistan's Waqar Younis was ruled out of the Test series due to a fractured toe on day two of the tour match against Sri Lanka Board XI.[2] The captain of his side and fellow paceman Wasim Akram also returned home owing to a shoulder injury.[3]

Tour match edit

Two-day match: Sri Lanka Board XI vs Pakistan edit

16–17 April 1997
Scorecard
Sri Lanka Board XI
v
301 (85.3 overs)
Russel Arnold 140
Waqar Younis 3/30 (11.3 overs)
281/8 (83 overs)
Saleem Elahi 106 (r/h)
Russel Arnold 3/7 (7 overs)
Match drawn
Police Park, Bambalapitiya
  • Sri Lanka Board XI won the toss and elected to bat.

The Marvan Atapattu-led Sri Lanka Board XI won the toss and elected to bat first. Opening batsman Russel Arnold of the Nondescripts Cricket Club top-scored for his side making 140 in 381 minutes striking 20 fours through his innings. He shared a 104-run stand with Sanjeeva Ranatunga (52) for the second wicket, before both were dismissed by Mohammad Zahid. Chasing 301 in their first innings, Pakistan lost their captain Rameez Raja cheaply towards the end of play on day one. Saleem Elahi and Saleem Malik then went on to score centuries on day two, making 106 in 272 minutes and 100 in 184 minutes respectively. For the Board XI, Arnold also shone with the ball claiming three wickets for 7 runs helping reduce the opposition from 242/3 to 281/8 at the end of play.[2]

Test series edit

1st Test edit

19–23 April 1997
Scorecard
v
330 (122.2 overs)
Hashan Tillakaratne 103 (228)
Saqlain Mushtaq 5/89 (44.2 overs)
378 (159.5 overs)
Ijaz Ahmed 113 (245)
Muttiah Muralitharan 6/98 (53 overs)
423/8d (155.1 overs)
Aravinda de Silva 168 (383)
Saqlain Mushtaq 4/137 (63 overs)
Match drawn
R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo
Umpires: David Shepherd (Eng) and Udaya Wickramasinghe (SL)
Player of the match: Saqlain Mushtaq (Pak)
  • Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to bat.
  • Russel Arnold (SL) made his Test debut.

2nd Test edit

26–30 April 1997
Scorecard
v
331 (112 overs)
Aravinda de Silva 138 (208)
Saqlain Mushtaq 4/115 (45 overs)
292 (108.3 overs)
Moin Khan 98 (109)
Sajeewa de Silva 5/85 (24.2 overs)
386/4d (95.5 overs)
Sanath Jayasuriya 113 (212)
Mushtaq Ahmed 3/113 (33 overs)
285/5 (95 overs)
Saleem Malik 155 (240)
Jayantha Silva 2/71 (28 overs)
Match drawn
Sinhalese Sports Club Ground, Colombo
Umpires: Peter Manuel (SL) and Ian Robinson (Zim)
Player of the match: Aravinda de Silva (SL)

References edit

  1. ^ "Pakistan in Sri Lanka, April 1997 - Pakistani squad". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 26 July 2018.
  2. ^ a b Thawfeeq, Sa'adi. "Reports". Daily News. ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 26 July 2018.
  3. ^ "Hashan, Saqlain take honours". Daily Star. ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 26 July 2018.
  4. ^ "Pakistan in Sri Lanka 1996/97 (2nd Test)". CricketArchive. Archived from the original on 16 January 2008. Retrieved 26 July 2018.
  5. ^ a b "Second Test Match, Sri Lanka v Pakistan". Wisden. ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 26 July 2018.

External links edit