With just over three months left to the World Twenty20, Sri Lanka and Pakistan will be looking to getting their teams in shape when the two-match Twenty20 series begins on Friday. The first T20 will also kickstart Pakistan's full tour of Sri Lanka.

Pakistan have a new captain for the shortest format of the game with Mohammad Hafeez taking over the reins from Misbah ul Haq. He will be hoping to start off on a much better note than their last T20 series whitewash against England earlier this year.

The squad notices a few new faces as well as the comeback of some of the old ones. Mohammad Sami makes a comeback to the team after nearly two years while Shakeel Ansar will don the wicket-keeper's gloves.

Allrounders Yasir Arafat and Sohail Tanvir are the other comeback men but will face stiff competition from Shahid Afridi. Afridi together with Saeed Ajmal should be a weapon on the slow Sri Lankan wickets.

Sri Lanka will be led by Mahela Jayawardene and have several players in their squad who featured in the recently-concluded Indian Premier League. Lasith Malinga will be their trump card after an impressive IPL while Tillakaratne Dilshan also had his moments of success.

One man hungry for success will be Kumar Sangakkara after having a wretched time in India. Dinesh Chandimal will take over the wicket-keeping duties while Angelo Mathews and Thissara Perera are the all-round options.

Nuwan Kulasekara has had reasonable success as a T20 bowler as well and could be more than a handful in front of the home crowd.

The two teams have come face to face in seven T20 matches with Pakistan victorious on five occasion, including the current streak of three wins in a row.

The match will be the first T20 played in Hambantota, starting at 7.00pm local time.

Tag :- Kumar Sangakkara   Mahela Jayawardene   Misbah ul Haq   Mohammad Sami   Pakistan   Shahid Afridi   Sri Lanka