Dambulla: Sri Lanka's captain Kumar Sangakkara won the toss and elected to bat first in the opening Asia Cup match at Rangiri Dambulla Stadium on Monday.

Sri Lanka is looking for a third consecutive Asia Cup title, having won the previous two editions in 2004 and 2008. But this time around, the team will be without star batsman Sanath Jayasuriya and spin bowler Ajantha Mendis, whose efforts won them the cup in 2008.

Pakistan which last were crowned Asian champions a decade ago has included fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar in their lineup and handed one-day international caps to 20-year-old batsmen Shahzaib Hasan and Umar Amin.

Teams

Sri Lanka Kumar Sangakkara (captain), Tillakaratne Dilshan, Upul Tharanga, Mahela Jayawardene, Thilan Samaraweera, Angelo Mathews, Farveez Maharoof, Chamara Kapugedera, Muttiah Muralitharan, Nuwan Kulasekara, Lasith Malinga.

Pakistan Shahid Afridi (captain), Salman Butt, Shahzaib Hasan, Shoaib Malik, Umar Akmal, Kamran Akmal, Abdul Razzaq, Umar Amin, Shoaib Akhtar, Mohammad Asif, Mohammad Aamir.