Can Pakistan gatecrash Mahela's farewell?

Cricket loses its yet another prodigious son.  Mahela Jayawardene is all set to end his cricketing career in whites though he would continue to wield his mighty bat in 50 over format in view of World Cup next year.  Standing between his farewell party is mercurial Pakistan. Pakistan is arguably one of the better bowling sides in the world apart from South Africa but at the same time they can be as abysmal as anyone, which Pakistani team would turn up on the day is anyone’s guess. Pakistan is one of the few countries which Mahela has failed to tame. He averages 32.16 which is least against all cricketing nations compare it with his career average of more than decent 50.09. His average goes for a toss against Pakistan in Sri Lanka, he averages a meager 27.89 against Pakistan whereas his average in all tests played in Sri Lanka is more than 60. So if there is team which could play spoilsport in Mahela’s farewell series it is Pakistan.
Mahela can take solace in the fact that the venues have been changed and the matches will be played at Galle and SSC Colombo.  No one has scored more runs at a single ground than Jayawardene at SSC and Galle, so it could be a dream finale for the Sri Lankan. Moreover Mahela’s performance in 2014 has been stellar, he averages more than 66 in the matches played in 2014. Coming fresh off 165 against the likes of Steyn, Philander and Morkel in 2nd test against South Africa, Mahela would be raring to go. But the road to success is paved with superb Pakistani spinners in Saeed Ajmal and Abdur Rehman. In the two matches these two teams played against each other this year Mahela was snared by Ajmal 3 times out of 3 times he was out. In conditions such as that of Sri Lanka Ajmal would be more than handful and the most critical cog of the wheel for Pakistan. Complementing him will be Abdur Rehman who can be as dangerous as any left arm spinner if the conditions suit him which is likely given the pitches in Sri Lanka. If anyone could play spin so adeptly on a spinning track it is Mahela with his silken touch and soft hands. This is precisely the reason why he has been so successful in Galle and Colombo. With Pakistan pace threat is always, taking up the mantle are young pace bowlers Junaid Khan, Mohammad Talha, Rahat Ali and Wahab Riaz. Their bowling records are nothing to write home about and none of them has played more than 20 tests. This is not to say that Mahela won’t be test by pace but it is the spin which is more likely to pose problems. If Mahela tackles Ajmal and Rehman then half the job is done and he can continue run fest in Sri Lanka. But for what it’s worth the series will be worth watching simply because it will be the last time one gets to watch the finesse and skills of Mahela Jayawardene on display. Cricket is a team sport but for once it will be a one man show.