29 Jun 2009, 0953 hrs IST

As Pakistan is gearing up to take on Sri Lanka during the three-match Test series in latter's own backyards, coach Intikhab Alam has advised his cricketers to shrug off Twenty20 hangovers and concentrate on techniques suitable for the five-dayers.

Besides the Test matches, Pakistan will also take on the islanders in a five-match ODI series and a one-off Twenty20 match during the tour.

"The batsmen have to display better performance and cut out high risk shots that are acceptable in T20 cricket. They must concentrate for long periods if we have to gain the upper hand against Sri Lanka. We need to peg down one end and attack from the other to be successful in Sri Lanka," Alam said.

Pakistan recently clinched the World T20 title in England.

On the possibility of fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar's return for the ODI series against Sri Lanka, Intikhab made it clear that the paceman has to prove himself fully fit first. "He has to prove he is 100 per cent fit to be considered for selection," he said.

Akhtar was withdrawn from the country's World T20 squad before the team's departure, following the Pakistan Cricket Board's medical panel advised him rest to recover from a skin infection.

Rumors were doing the rounds in recent days that Akhtar was contemplating about retiring from the Test cricket and concentrating on winning back his place in Pakistan's ODI and T20 squads.

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