Pakistan coach Waqar Younis played down the threat from Muttiah Muralitharan ahead of their crucial World Cup clash with Sri Lanka on Saturday, saying their batsmen had coped with him in the past. A capacity 35,000-crowd is expected to fill the Premadasa stadium in Colombo for the Group A match - the first big test for both teams after Sri Lanka easily rolled over Canada and Pakistan crushed Kenya.
"In the past if Muralitharan had plans for us, we have played really well against him in this country. "I don't think we should worry about him that much, he is not 28 anymore," said Waqar of the 38-year-old off-spinner, who has 521 wickets in 342 one-day internationals - a world record.
"It is not going to be easy for him any more. We are prepared not only for him but the entire team because we know it's an important match for us and we need to keep the momentum going." Waqar admitted Sri Lanka would be tough to beat in home conditions. "Sri Lanka on their home ground are very good, very difficult to beat. Here the conditions and weather help them, but the way we have played and trained and with our momentum, I am hopeful we can beat them," said the coach.
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