Sri Lanka are quite familiar with two things going into the opener of the Asia Cup 2014 - the surroundings, and the opponents.
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For the India vs Bangladesh match live streaming information, click HERE.
The game is scheduled for a 2 pm local time (1.30 pm IST, 8 am GMT, 3 am ET) start with live coverage on Star Sports 1, Star Sports 3 and Star Sports HD1 in India. The match can also be watched via live streaming online in India HERE. Willow Cricket will provide the coverage in the US, with the live streaming option HERE. Viewers in Canada can catch the action on CBN and ATN Cricket Plus, while UK viewers can watch the match on Star Life OK, with the website video page HERE.
The match will be shown on PTV Sports, with the live streaming options HERE or HERE. Viewers in Sri Lanka can catch the action on MTV Sports, while the match can be live streamed HERE. In Bangladesh, the coverage of the Asia Cup will be available on Channel 9 and Star Life OK. Viewers in Australia can live stream the match HERE, while South Africa viewers can do so HERE.
[Read Pakistan vs Sri Lanka Match 1 report HERE]
The Lankans only just finished a full series in Bangladesh, the venue of the Asia Cup as well as the World T20, and having thumped the home side 3-0, confidence will not be a problem.
Sri Lanka also face familiar foes in Pakistan in the first match of the continental tournament, having recently faced off with each other in a tense series in the UAE, which the latter won 3-2. So, if familiarity works in their favour will be know only after that white ball browns a little come Tuesday at the Osman Ali Stadium in Fatullah.
"We have played a lot against Pakistan," Sri Lanka skipper Angelo Mathews said on Monday. "We know them and they also know us. All the teams are even. They will want to win the matches. We also would like to win. Hopefully there will be a really good competition.
"I think we need to show more good performance to go further. We beat Bangladesh 3-0 -- that doesn't mean that it would be easier for us to win the Asia Cup. It will be a tough tournament and there will be huge challenges."
Pakistan have looked decent in their last two series' and this relatively young side will be put to the test in the Asia Cup, but with confidence breeding under the stewardship of the excellent Misbah-ul-Haq, this team could very well defend their Asia Cup title, which they won beating Bangladesh in the final in the last tournament.
"For me, every team is a favourite, but we definitely have the edge as we have won our last two one-day series," Misbah said. "The team is in good shape. Cricket is a confidence game and we have been playing well in the last three-four months. We have to do our basics right to have a good chance."
Sri Lanka have the much more seasoned batting unit, while Pakistan, as is pretty much always the case, hold the aces with the ball. At the end, this match could very well come down to which team does better with their more weaker aspect - is the Sri Lankan bowlers find some much-needed firepower, then Mathews and co will open the tournament with a win; but if Pakistan's unpredictable, but seriously talented batsmen take flight, like they did in that UAE series, then the men in green will begin their campaign with a big 'W'.
Team news: Pakistan: The squad looks pretty settled, with most of the faces the same as the ones that beat Sri Lanka in the UAE. Misbah is likely to go with the tested first XI, with not too many surprise inclusions expected.
Sri Lanka: With Tillakaratne Dilshan ruled out through injury, calls have been made to ask Mahela Jayawardene to open the innings along with Kusal Perera, who has looked quite comfortable of late in the international game. With Rangana Herath and Nuwan Kulasekara injured, the onus will be on Lasith Malinga to take the reins and lead his bowling unit by example.
Expected lineups: Pakistan: Sharjeel Khan, Ahmed Shehzad, Mohammed Hafeez, Sohaib Maqsood, Misbah-ul-Haq (capt), Umar Akmal, Shahid Afridi, Bilawal Bhatti, Umar Gul, Saeed Ajmal, Junaid Khan.
Sri Lanka: Kusal Perera, Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara, Dinesh Chandimal, Ashan Priyanjan, Angelo Mathews, Thisara Perera, Sachitra Senanayake, Lasith Malinga, Ajantha Mendis, Suranga Lakmal.
