Series win against Lanka a turning point for Pakistan : Talat Ali

Dubai, May 23 (UNI) Pakistan assiatant coach and team manager Talat Ali said the 2-1 one-day series triumph over World Cup finalists Sri Lanka in Abu Dhabi will be a turning point in Pakistan cricket.

The former Test batsman, who is at the helm of the team in the absence of a full-time coach, said, ''Winning the first two matches and the Warid Cricket series here against Sri Lanka is a turning point and for the good of Pakistan cricket.'' After the disastrous show of Pakistan in the World Cup, he believes captain Shoaib Malik and Co has done the hard work to achieve the postive result here.

''The team had under-performed and was down. However, the boys have been working very, very hard, both during the short camp as well as here on the tour,'' Ali was quoted as saying by the 'Gulf News' yesterday.

Pakistan won the first ODI by five wickets, the series-clinching second by 98 runs while Sri Lanka won the third ODI match by 115 runs.

UNI