Pakistan vs Sri Lanka - Major Personal Milestones Around the Corner

MISBAH UL HAQ

Pakistan's test captain has already achieved so much while captaining the team that there doesn't seem much left for him to do. He has taken Pakistan to number 3 in the test rankings, he has won more tests as captain than any other Pakistan captain, he has scored more runs as captain than any other Pakistan captain, and he has led Pakistan more times than everyone else, except for the great Imran Khan.

So what else is left for Misbah to make his own? Well, he needs 1 more century to equal and two more to break Inzamam Ul Haq's record of 7 test centuries scored as Pakistan captain.

YASIR SHAH

Pakistan's newest leg spinner has been a revelation in test cricket. He has taken over from Saeed Ajmal in the best possible way and has plenty of wickets to show for his tenacity and perseverance. Rated by Shane Warne as the best leg spinner in the world today, Yasir Shah has so far picked up 37 wickets in only 7 tests.

He has the opportunity to complete 50 test wickets faster than any bowler from Pakistan if he can pick up another 13 wickets in the next 2 tests. The Pakistan record for fastest to reach 50 test wickets is jointly held by Waqar Younis, Mohammad Asif, and Shabbir Ahmed, who managed it in 10 tests. For spinners, the Pakistan record is held by Saeed Ajmal and Abdur Rehman who required 11 tests.

Yasir Shah also has time on his side as it has only been 235 days since his Test debut against Australia in October last year. No one has achieved the feat of picking up 50 test wickets for Pakistan within a year of his debut.

While the overall international record for fastest 50 test wickets is 6 tests, held by Charlie Turner from Australia, the record among spinners is held by Alfred Valentine, the slow left-armer from West Indies, who managed the feat in 8 tests. Yasir can't break that record but he definitely has the opportunity to equal it.

While Pakistan will be looking to improve its test record in Sri Lanka, and its cricketers will have their eyes firmly on their personal goals, Pakistan's two biggest nemeses will be licking their lips at the prospect of playing against their favorite opposition once again. Kumar Sangakkara and Rangana Herath have been the two biggest hurdles that Pakistan has not been able to overcome.

No one has scored more test runs or test centuries against Pakistan than Sangakkara has.

Moreover, Sangakkara will be looking to add to his 2,809 runs against Pakistan and become the first batsman in the world to score 3,000 test runs against them. That will make him the first cricketer to score 3,000 test runs against an opposition besides Australia and England. The feat has been achieved only 7 times before - by Bradman, Border, Sobers, and Steve Waugh vs England; and Tendulkar, Hobbs, and Gower vs Australia.