Defending champs Sri Lanka expect Asia cup to be challenging

Defending champions Sri Lanka expect forthcoming Asia cup to be challenging as skipper Mahela Jayawerdene said that the journey in Pakistan would be exciting.

Mumbai, June 16 : Defending champions Sri Lanka expect forthcoming Asia cup to be challenging as skipper Mahela Jayawerdene said that the journey in Pakistan would be exciting.

Speaking to the reporters in Mumbai today in an event organised to promote Sri Lanka tourism, Sri Lankan skipper said that all the three major teams of the sub-continent are in good form.

"Well, the Asia Cup is very important for us like other countries. We have played in and won. Pakistan is going to be a challenging place to play. All three teams are in pretty good form and have probably played with each other quite often, so it's going to be exciting tour. I am definitely looking forward to it," said Mahela Jayawerdene.

The Asia cup will begin from 24 of this month.

Speaking about the upcoming test series between Sri Lanka and India in the island nation, Jayawerdene saluted the capabilities of the Indian batting legend Sachin Tendulkar and said that his team would try to contain him from becoming the highest run getter in the test series.

"Hopefully we won't let him (Sachin Tendulkar) do that in Sri Lanka because he is one of the key players for the Indian team in test cricket. So we need to make sure that we won't let him get into the rhythm and get run against him. But his achievement are difficult to compare, he has been a brilliant cricketer and consistent as well for so many years. I am sure he will break it, our challenger is to delay the process as long as possible," added Jayawerdene.

Sachin Tendulkar, with a tally of 11782 runs is next only to the West Indian great Brian Lara who stands atop with 11953 runs in the test cricket.

The Indian team would be visiting Sri Lanka in July to play three test matches besides five one-day internationals.

ANI