Pakistan were beaten in a Test series for the first time on Sri Lankan soil when Younis Khan’s men lost the first two matches before drawing the final game in Colombo last week.

But Younis is confident a change in personnel and infusion of new blood for the five One-day matches will revive the tourists and provide entertaining cricket for fans.

“There are many players in the team who did not play the Test series, and they are keen to prove that Pakistan are one of the best One-day teams in the world,” he said.

“The Tests are behind us, we look forward to doing well in the One-dayers,” said Younis, who led Pakistan to victory over Sri Lanka in the World Twenty20 final at Lord’s, England in June.

All-rounder Shahid Afridi, who was man of the match in both the semi-final and final of the World Twenty20, returns to bolster the tourists after opting out of the Test series.

Pakistan will also welcome back seamer Rana Naved, 31, and opening batsman Imran Nazir, 27, who will represent the country once again after breaking links with the unauthorised Indian Cricket League.

All eyes, however, will be on talented 19-year-old batsman Umar Akmal, the younger brother of wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal, who forced his way onto the side with impressive scores in domestic cricket.

Umar hit an unbeaten 101 in a warm-up match in Kurunegala on Monday when Pakistan failed to chase down Sri Lanka ‘A’s 348-6 by just 15 runs.

Sri Lanka, meanwhile, will be boosted by the return of world bowling record holder Muttiah Muralitharan and fiery fast bowler Lasith Malinga after they both missed the Test series with knee injuries.

Muralitharan, who has taken more Test (770) and One-day (505) wickets than any other bowler, will lend experience to the hosts’ bowling attack in the absence of veteran seamer Chaminda Vaas.

Vaas retired from Test cricket after the Pakistan series, but was ignored for the One-dayers despite insisting he would play limited-overs cricket till the 2011 World Cup.

Middle-order batsman Thilan Samaraweera returns to the One-day arena after four years, but dashing Tillakaratne Dilshan will miss the series after sustaining finger and eye injuries during the third Test.

Upul Tharanga is expected to open the innings with veteran Sanath Jayasuriya.

The rivals will also play a Twenty20 international in Colombo on August 12 after the One-dayers end.

Teams and schedule for the five-match ODI series between Pakistan and Sri Lanka starting on Thursday:

Pakistan (from): Younis Khan (capt), Imran Nazir, Nasir Jamshed, Mohammad Yousuf, Misbah-ul Haq, Shoaib Malik, Kamran Akmal, Shahid Afridi, Umar Gul, Saeed Ajmal, Mohammad Aamer, Rana Naved, Abdul Razzaq, Umar Akmal, Fawad Alam, Rao Iftikhar.

Sri Lanka (from): Kumar Sangakkara (capt), Sanath Jayasuriya, Upul Tharanga, Mahela Jayawardene, Thilan Samaraweera, Chamara Kapugedera, Angelo Mathews, Nuwan Kulasekara, Lasith Malinga, Muttiah Muralitharan, Ajantha Mendis, Thilina Kandamby, Malinga Bandara, Thilan Thushara, Isuru Udana.

Schedule:

July 30: First ODI, Dambulla

Aug 1: Second ODI, Dambulla

Aug 3: Third ODI, Dambulla

Aug 7: Fourth ODI, Premadasa stadium, Colombo (Day-night)

Aug 9: Fifth ODI, Premadasa stadium, Colombo (Day-night)

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Over the years England has had the edge over the Aussies at Edgbaston, but the last four matches have been shared. The Ashes 2005 match here was one of the most exciting ever, with England winning by just 2 runs in the tightest finish ever in 128 years of Ashes history.