Calcutta: It has been three years since Pakistan last played in India. Yet, they remain a highly popular team with the fans on this side of the border. On Monday, when Pakistan played a warm-up match against Sri Lanka, there were around 10,000 spectators at the Eden and most cheered for Shahid Afridi's men.

The fans returned a satisfied lot as Pakistan defeated Sri Lanka by 15 runs. The Pakistan players also looked visibly happy as they warmly embraced each other after winning the match. Given their performance in recent months, the victory was definitely a welcome change.

A day after Afridi and former captain Shoaib Malik praised Indian cricket fans, the spectators reciprocated the gesture by cheering for them.

Electing to bat first, Pakistan scored 157 for five with Mohammed Hafeez emerging the top scorer with 70 off 49 deliveries, with the help of nine fours and one six. The Sri Lankan reply was inadequate as they managed only 142/9, despite an entertaining innings of 45 by Lahiru Thirimanne.

He along with Dinesh Chandimal, who made 30 in 21 balls, briefly made an attempt to revive the innings, but the effort did not last long.

Left-arm spinner Imad Wasim was the most successful Pak bowler, scalping four wickets for 25 runs, after the towering left-arm fast bowler Mohammed Irfan (2/18) gave his team a good start. Wasim was also sharp with his fielding and dismissed Milinda Siriwardana with a direct throw from extra cover.

The biggest cheer of the day was reserved for Afridi, but he disappointed with the bat. Having come to bat at No. 6 in the 19th over, he first faced a wide ball from Thisara Perera. In the next ball, the Pakistan captain swung widely to be caught by Sachithra Senanayake.

If Afridi was the main attraction during Pakistan's batting, fast bowler Mohammed Aamir was the most keenly watched man during Sri Lanka's batting. Having opened the bowling, he did a fine job in the first two overs, leaving little room for the Lankan openers to swing their bats. Overall, he bowled four overs for 20 runs. With Aamir keeping the batsmen under check at one end, Irfan produced a superb rising delivery to get rid of Tillekaratne Dilshan to give Pakistan a perfect start in the second over. Chandimal broke the shackles hitting Irfan for two boundaries, while in the next over from Wahab Riaz he launched an onslaught, smashing a six and three successive boundaries.

But the introduction of Wasim in the sixth over gave Pakistan the breakthrough when he dismissed Chandimal. The batsman failed to judge the delivery and was caught at midwicket trying to hit across the line. Pakistan, however, could be without fast bowler Mohammed Sami in their World T20 opener against Bangladesh, at the Eden Gardens on Wednesday. He injured his toe during a practice session.

"There's still no word on his fitness and we are not sure whether he would be available for the first match," a Pakistan team official said.

Brief scores: Pakistan 157/5 in 20 overs (Md Hafeez 70, S. Khan 23; T. Perera 2/21). Sri Lanka 142/9 in 20 overs (L. Thirimanne 45, D. Chandimal 30; I. Wasim 4/25, Md Irfan 2/20). Pakistan won by 15 runs.