Hanif predicts close encounters

KARACHI: In spite of a dismal show in Test series against Sri Lanka, legendary cricketer Hanif Mohammad believes Pakistan would rise in ODI series against Sri Lanka starting 30 July at Dambulla.Hanif Mohammad said that with new faces coming in the Pakistan side for the ODI series, the competition would not be one-sided anymore.“Shahid Afridi is an asset and with his inclusion in the team for one-dayers, Pakistan will be strengthened. Moreover, some good players like Imran Nazir, Abdul Razzaq and Umar Akmal would also bolster the team and I expect close encounter overall,” Hanif Mohammad said.However, Hanif Mohammad didn’t think that Pakistan’s performance in the Test series was dismal taking different parameters into consideration.He said that it was not easy to switch to Test cricket after playing a World T20 Championship. “They have not played much cricket during the last year. And the conditions in Sri Lanka was completely different,” Hanif said. “So it is not at all easy to click with so many parameters working against you.” “But I feel Pakistan will be able to put up a fine show in the one-dayers,” he said.