Lankan captain Angelo Mathews optimistic about facing defending champs in Asia Cup

Sri Lanka's captain, Angelo Mathews, remains optimistic as his team prepares to face the defending champions, Pakistan, in the opening match of the five-nation Asia Cup.

While Pakistan, which won the Asia Cup in 2012, continues to put pressure on Lanka with their experienced and new players, an optimistic Mathews has said that Sri Lanka has played a lot against both India and Pakistan and he feels that all the teams are even.

According to the Dawn, Mathews said that defeating Bangladesh 3-0, in the home series where Bangladesh played host, does not mean that it would be easy for them to win the Asia cup too as it would be a tough tournament with huge challenges.

Mathew's team reportedly has an added advantage of having played in Bangladesh a month ago ahead of Tuesday's opening match at Fatullah, however, Mathew said that the main challenge would be to tackle the spinners successfully.

Meanwhile, Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq said that they were taking strength from the series win over Sri Lanka and South Africa and although the team has got several relatively new players like Sharjeel Khan, Sohaib Maqsood, Mohammad Talha and Bilawal Bhatti, Misbah and Mohammad Hafeez would be playing the key role in Pakistan's batting, the report added.

The team squads are:

Sri Lanka:

Angelo Mathews (captain), Dinesh Chandimal, Lasith Malinga, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Kusal Perera, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Lahiru Thirimanne, Thisara Perera, Dhammika Prasad, Suranga Lakmal, Chaturanga De Silva, Sachithra Senanayake, Ajantha Mendis, Ashan Priyanjan

Pakistan:

.