The ICC World Twenty20 2012 hosts Sri Lanka will begin its preparation for the upcoming global event that begins on 18 September when it takes on Pakistan later this week in a two-match Twenty20 International series in Hambantota.
The two teams will be keen to get some good match practice ahead of the tournament which runs from 18 September to 7 October in Colombo, Pallekele and Hambantota later this year. Sri Lanka will need to win the series, which starts on Friday (1 June), 2-0 if it is to move up from third place in the Reliance ICC T20 Championship table.
Mahela Jayawardena’s side has the opportunity to rise to second in the table, and usurp South Africa which currently occupies second place, if the 2-0 scenario occurs. Sri Lanka’s ratings points would rise to 124 while Pakistan’s would drop to 107 and put the latter in seventh place just above India when the points are calculated to within the decimal point.
If Pakistan, the ICC World Twenty20 2009 champions, beat Sri Lanka 2-0 in the series, then newly appointed Twenty20 captain Mohammad Hafeez would see his side move up to fourth, one ratings point behind New Zealand.
Should Sri Lanka lose the series 2-0, it would see the ICC World Twenty20 2009 runners up drop to sixth in the Championship table, just below Australia when the points are calculated to within the decimal point.
Should the both matches be tied, neither side will move up or down the table while if one match is tied and Sri Lanka win the other match, Pakistan will drop to sixth in the table after losing two ratings points. If the scenario is reversed and Pakistan win one match, while the other is tied, this visitors will remain fifth, while hosts Sri Lanka will drop to fourth in the table.