Pakistan in must-win situation

On March 21 this year, India began their fourth match of the one-day series against Pakistan with a do-or-die gong. Being 2-1 down in the series, they simply had to win to stay alive. Pakistan face a similar predicament before Sunday's match against India at the Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. Inzamam-ul-Haq summed it up in three sentences - "If we win on Sunday, we qualify. If we lose, we don't. It is as simple as that."

Nothing was simple for the Pakistan batsmen in their previous game against Sri Lanka as they crumbled for just 122. Bob Woolmer lamented that almost every dismissal being self-inflicted and how the team had to work out a way to avoid such disastrous days. The bowling was off colour in all three games with the extras bug haunting them throughout. Given that 35 wides were conceded in the last two games, one wonders what all the pre-tournament talk about shortened run-ups was about.

India, with no must-win caveat, come into the match after a stroll-in-the-park eight-wicket win over Bangladesh. Sachin Tendulkar made a fine 82 and clarified in no uncertain terms that he still "enjoyed his batting", while Sourav Ganguly got some batting practice. Among the bowlers, Zaheer Khan has passed a fitness test to play in the game while Irfan Pathan's recent exploits, including a spell that stunned Pakistan in the last one-dayer that these teams played, have made him a huge threat.

John Wright, the Indian coach, isn't too cornered about the Shoaib Akhtar factor, and was quoted in The Times of India as saying, "We have done our homework against him and are ready." India are likely to go into the game with seven batsmen and Harbhajan Singh will make way for the return of Zaheer. India must ensure against losing wickets in a heap, like they did against Sri Lanka, and whether Ganguly will bat at No. 3 or 4 remains uncertain.

Will Pakistan continue to gamble with Shoaib Malik at No. 3? Two failures in that position, apart from the fact that both Inzamam and Yousuf Youhana could occupy that spot, indicate that he may not. Younis Khan might have smashed a modest Hong Kong bowling attack to pulp, but it has been a while since he has performed on the big stage.

Considering recent results and individual form, the odds are definitely stacked against Pakistan. But they just have to look back five months to realise that it may well be possible. India chased 294 that night at Lahore and went on to clinch the series three days later. And whoever said India-Pakistan matches were about form anyway?