| Abu Dhabi Series 2007 | ||
| Teams | Pakistan | Sri Lanka |
| Dates | 18 May – 22 May 2007 | |
| Captains | Shoaib Malik | Mahela Jayawardene |
| Number of ODIs | 3 | |
| ODIs won | 2 | 1 |
| Most runs (ODIs) | Shoaib Malik (117) Salman Butt (110) Kamran Akmal (91) |
Mahela Jayawardene (162) Chamara Silva (132) Upul Tharanga (105) |
| Most wickets (ODIs) | Umar Gul (5) Mohammad Asif (4) Iftikhar Anjum Mohammad Sami Shahid Afridi (3) |
Farveez Maharoof (6) Dilhara Fernando (5) Malinga Bandara (4) |
| Player of Series (ODIs) | Mahela Jayawardene (Sri Lanka) and Shahid Afridi (Pakistan) | |
The Abu Dhabi Series, also known as the Warid Cricket Series, was a cricket tournament, contested between Pakistan and Sri Lanka, from 18 May to 22 May 2007. It was hosted on neutral soil, all 3 ODIs being played at the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi, UAE. It will be the first matches played by either side since the conclusion of the 2007 Cricket World Cup. Pakistan went on to win the series 2-1, only losing the final match of the series. All 3 matches were Day/Night matches.
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Following the retirement of Inzamam-ul-Haq after Pakistan's shock World Cup Group Stage exit, Pakistan named Shoaib Malik as ul-Haq's successor as captain. Younis Khan and Shoaib Akhtar were both dropped - Akhtar for his fitness, whilst Khan is playing English county cricket with Yorkshire County Cricket Club. Salman Butt was recalled to the team after 9 months out of the side.[3]
Only nine of the fifteen players in the Sri Lankan squad who were present for their 2007 World Cup campaign are in the squad for the Abu Dhabi Series - Russel Arnold retired following the World Cup, whilst Muttiah Muralitharan, Kumar Sangakkara and Chaminda Vaas were all rested in order to be given the opportunity to play for their respective English county cricket teams. Young bowler Nuwan Kulasekara was dropped from the side, as well as former captain Marvan Atapattu, with Sri Lanka Cricket explaining they wanted to give experience to younger players, such as Malinda Warnapura who had earlier impressed for Sri Lanka A.[4]
Both teams had experienced recent changes in coaches: Pakistan's coach Bob Woolmer died in the West Indies following the team's exit from the World Cup - the investigation into his death, amidst claims of murder, is still ongoing. No full time coach had been named before the series, although there has been speculation as to current Bangladesh coach Dav Whatmore taking over once he steps down at the end of India's tour of Bangladesh.[5] Sri Lanka's coach Tom Moody announced his intention to leave Sri Lanka and return to Australia to coach the Western Warriors following the series.[6]
| May 18, 2007 (scorecard) |
Sri Lanka 235/9 (50 overs) |
v | Pakistan 239/5 (42 overs) |
Pakistan win by 5 wickets Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi, UAE Umpires: Suresh Shastri (IND) and Mark Benson (ENG) Player of the match: Shahid Afridi (PAK) |
| Farveez Maharoof 69* (54) Umar Gul 3/61 (10 overs) |
Shahid Afridi 73* (34) Kamran Akmal 51* (51) |
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| May 20, 2007 (scorecard) |
Pakistan 313/9 (50 overs) |
v | Sri Lanka 215 (39.5 overs) |
Pakistan win by 98 runs Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi, UAE Umpires: Suresh Shastri (IND) and Russell Tiffin (ZIM) Player of the match: Salman Butt (PAK) |
| Salman Butt 74 (81) Yasir Hameed 50 (53) Malinga Bandara 3/56 (10 overs) |
Mahela Jayawardene 61 (69) Shahid Afridi 3/37 (10 overs) |
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| May 22, 2007 (scorecard) |
Sri Lanka 296/9 (50 overs) |
v | Pakistan 181 (42.5 overs) |
Sri Lanka win by 115 runs Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi, UAE Umpires: Mark Benson (ENG) and Russell Tiffin (ZIM) Player of the match: Dilhara Fernando (SRI) |
| Mahela Jayawardene 83 (81) Chamara Silva 64 (87) |
Shoaib Malik 79* (85) Dilhara Fernando 3/20 (7 overs) |
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