Pakistan look to find form

After a shocking World Cup, in more ways than one, Pakistan get back on the field on Friday with the first match of their three-game one-day international series with Sri Lanka in Abu Dhabi, looking to restore a little credibility as they begin life after Inzamam.

The former skipper has retired from one-dayers, leaving Shoaib Malik as the new captain, facing a tough task to pull the side together into a one-day force.

To make their life more difficult, they take on a Sri Lanka team fresh from reaching the final of the World Cup. Whether they too can pick themselves back up after the mental and physical effort of that run will be very interesting to discover.

Bet365 make Pakistan narrow favourites at 4/5 (1.80), while Sri Lanka are 9/10 (1.90), prices that reflect the fact that Sri Lanka will be without Muttiah Muralitharan, Chaminda Vaas and Kumar Sangakkara all sitting the series out.

Pakistan have a lot to prove but also little to lose and they could be dangerous in this series. Malik will have the support of his team-mates and essentially this is a new team, but one that still possesses, in Mohammad Yousuf, one of the world's best batsmen.

Predictably, Yousuf tops the betting to be top Pakistan batsman, at 3/1, just ahead of Imran Nazir, at 4/1, Malik at 9/2 and Shahid Afridi and Salman Butt, both 5/1.

For Sri Lanka, the old warhorse, Sanath Jayasuriya heads the betting at 3/1, with Mahela Jayawardene 100/30. Upul Tharanga is 4/1 and Chamara Silva 5/1, with Tillekeratne Dilshan 7/1.

This could be close but Pakistan should win, even if neither side have the benefit of home advantage.