2007 Abu Dhabi Series
# 2007 Abu Dhabi Series

The Abu Dhabi Series, also known as the Warid Cricket Series, was a cricket tournament, contested between Pakistan and Sri Lanka, from 18 to 22 May 2007. It was hosted on neutral soil, all 3 ODIs being played at the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi, UAE. It will be the first matches played by either side since the conclusion of the 2007 Cricket World Cup. Pakistan went on to win the series 2-1, only losing the final match of the series. All 3 matches were Day/Night matches.

## Squad lists

| Pakistan | Sri Lanka |
| - | - |
| Shoaib Malik (c) | Mahela Jayawardene (c) |
| Kamran Akmal (wk) | Prasanna Jayawardene (wk) |
| Shahid Afridi | Ishara Amerasinghe |
| Fawad Alam | Malinga Bandara |
| Iftikhar Anjum | Tillakaratne Dilshan |
| Mohammad Asif | Dilhara Fernando |
| Salman Butt | Sanath Jayasuriya |
| Umar Gul | Chamara Kapugedera |
| Mohammad Hafeez | Kaushal Lokuarachchi |
| Yasir Hameed | Farveez Maharoof |
| Imran Nazir | Lasith Malinga |
| Abdul Razzaq | Ruchira Perera |
| Abdur Rehman | Chamara Silva |
| Mohammad Sami | Upul Tharanga |
| Najaf Shah | Malinda Warnapura |
| Mohammad Yousuf | |

### Squad changes

**Pakistan**

Following the retirement of Inzamam-ul-Haq after Pakistan's shock World Cup Group Stage exit, Pakistan named Shoaib Malik as ul-Haq's successor as captain. Younis Khan and Shoaib Akhtar were both dropped - Akhtar for his fitness, whilst Khan is playing English county cricket with Yorkshire County Cricket Club. Salman Butt was recalled to the team after 9 months out of the side.

**Sri Lanka**

Only nine of the fifteen players in the Sri Lankan squad who were present for their 2007 World Cup campaign are in the squad for the Abu Dhabi Series - Russel Arnold retired following the World Cup, whilst Muttiah Muralitharan, Kumar Sangakkara and Chaminda Vaas were all rested in order to be given the opportunity to play for their respective English county cricket teams. Young bowler Nuwan Kulasekara was dropped from the side, as well as former captain Marvan Atapattu, with Sri Lanka Cricket explaining they wanted to give experience to younger players, such as Malinda Warnapura who had earlier impressed for Sri Lanka A.

**Coaches**

Both teams had experienced recent changes in coaches: Pakistan's coach Bob Woolmer died in the West Indies following the team's exit from the World Cup - the investigation into his death, amidst claims of murder, is still ongoing. No full-time coach had been named before the series, although there has been speculation as to current Bangladesh coach Dav Whatmore taking over once he steps down at the end of India's tour of Bangladesh. Sri Lanka's coach Tom Moody announced his intention to leave Sri Lanka and return to Australia to coach the Western Warriors following the series.

## ODI series

### 1st ODI

* 18 May 2007 (scorecard)

| Sri Lanka 235/9 (50 overs) | v | Pakistan 239/5 (42 overs) |
| - | - | - |
| Farveez Maharoof 69* (54) Umar Gul 3/61 (10 overs) | | Shahid Afridi 73* (34) Farveez Maharoof 1/47 (8 overs) Malinga Bandara 1/69 (10 overs) |

* Pakistan win by 5 wickets Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi, UAE Umpires: Suresh Shastri (IND) and Mark Benson (ENG) Player of the match: Shahid Afridi (PAK)

### 2nd ODI

* 20 May 2007 (scorecard)

| Pakistan 313/9 (50 overs) | v | Sri Lanka 215 (39.5 overs) |
| - | - | - |
| Salman Butt 74 (81) Yasir Hameed 50 (53) Malinga Bandara 3/56 (10 overs) | | Mahela Jayawardene 61 (69) Shahid Afridi 3/37 (10 overs) |

* Pakistan win by 98 runs Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi, UAE Umpires: Suresh Shastri (IND) and Russell Tiffin (ZIM) Player of the match: Salman Butt (PAK)

### 3rd ODI

* 22 May 2007 (scorecard)

| Sri Lanka 296/9 (50 overs) | v | Pakistan 181 (42.5 overs) |
| - | - | - |
| Mahela Jayawardene 83 (81) Iftikhar Anjum 3/53 (10 overs) | | Shoaib Malik 79* (85) Dilhara Fernando 3/20 (7 overs) |

* Sri Lanka win by 115 runs Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi, UAE Umpires: Mark Benson (ENG) and Russell Tiffin (ZIM) Player of the match: Dilhara Fernando (SRI)
* Pakistan won the series 2-1
