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Lanka looking to make it 2-0

Sri Lankan coach confident of achieving "sweet success" Sri Lankan cricket coach Dav Whatmore said on Tuesday his boys were confident of achieving "sweet success" against Pakistan in the one-day series.

"We have beaten a tough team like Australia at home but if we clinch the limited-over matches series against Pakistan in their den it would be a sweet success," Whatmore said.

Sri Lanka, 1-0 up in the three-match series after their 29-run win in Karachi, take on Pakistan in Gujranwala on Wednesday. Both teams had morning nets in Lahore on Tuesday.

The 1996 World champions, Sri Lanka are on a crest of a wave, after lifting the tri-series cup against Australia and India at home and beating Zimbabwe 4-1 in the away one-day series. After a dismal show in the 1999 World Cup where they failed to come out of the first stage, Sri Lanka have won six of their last seven one-day matches.

"We would definitely like to go 2-0 up but are mindful of the fact that Pakistan are really tough opponents," Whatmore said.

Pakistan failed in their effort to chase the 275-run target set by the visitors in the first match. Whatmore said his side's fielding was the difference between the two teams in the first match.

"It's a fact that everybody doesn't get a chance to bat and bowl but all of the 11 have to field and if they do it well they make a difference," Whatmore said.

Pakistan coach Intikhab Alam agreed his team lost due to poor fielding.

"We didn't lose in batting nor in bowling but they downed us in fielding. Now it's time we go for the kill in the second match," Alam said.

Pakistan have recalled pacer Shoaib Akhtar, suspended for the first match on disciplinary grounds, and all-rounder Azhar Mahmood. Teenage all-rounder Yasir Arafat and pacer Zahid Saeed are left out of the 15-man squad.

"Our concern is off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq and batsman Yousuf Youhanna, both are not performing as per expectations," Alam said.

"The opposition have worked on Saqlain's ball that drifts away and now we are working on how he can regain his effectiveness," he said.

Sri Lanka is likely to bring in pacer Nuwan Zoysa for Pramodya Wickremasinghe. Both teams will announce the final 11 on the morning of the match.