Younis hopes to negate SL spinners

“The morale of the team is on a high at the moment after winning the T20 World Cup.

This is the best time for us to be touring Sri Lanka, who are a very good team,” Younis said on the eve of Pakistan’s departure to Sri Lanka on Saturday morning. “The expectations from us are high now after our World Cup win and Sri Lanka have a very good side. They especially have a very good spin attack.

“Until now, Pakistani and Indian batsmen have played Muttiah Muralitharan and Ajantha Mendis, who are two class spinners, very well.  That gives us a good chance of doing well in Sri Lanka. Plus we always tend to do well in Sri Lanka,” he added.

Pakistan will play three Tests, five one-dayers and a Twenty20 international on their month-long tour which is the first full bilateral series for Pakistan since they played in India in December 2007. Sri Lanka had toured Pakistan for a short two-Test series in February-March this year but the series was abandoned midway during the second Test in Lahore after terrorists attacked the touring side on March 3.

Younis also praised the fighting spirit of the Sri Lankan team, who lost the World T20 final after remaining undefeated in the tournament.

“For a team to undergo the sort of terrifying incident they faced when they came under attack, I must say the Sri Lankan players have shown great resilience and courage to recover so quickly from that episode,” Younis said.

“To be honest, if that incident had occurred with us, I would have seriously thought about retiring from the sport,” he added. Pakistan have recalled leg-spinner Danish Kaneria, senior batsman Mohammad Yousuf, opener Khurrum Manzoor and also included pacer Abdul Rauf in the team.

Younis said that Pakistan would also be strengthened with the return of senior batsmen Yousuf and Abdul Razzaq for the Test tour. “They are two very experienced players.

Yousuf will take some time to settle down and find his touch. We understand that and the others have to support him. But he is a class act and I am sure he will be back with a bang on this tour,” he added.