Pakistan search for winning formula

Friday August 7, 2009
Start time 14.30 (09.00 GMT)

Big Picture

A series of lopsided fortunes is dead in terms of a contest. So what to do the teams play for?

For Pakistan there is only pride to play for, a position which is becoming all-too-familiar for this team in recent times. In their previous ODI series, against Australia in the UAE, Pakistan managed a face-saving win in the dead match. Given their current predicament and lack of one-day direction, they cannot waste any opportunity to find some form.

Just before the start of the ODI series there was talk of 'undesirable elements' lurking in the team hotel along with reports of factionalism and rifts in the team. The seniors players have consistently underperformed, adding to the pressure on captain Younis Khan. Mohammad Yousuf and Misbah-ul-Haq were dropped after the first ODI, and Shoaib Malik has been a non-starter with scores of 9, 0 and 12.

Each defeat has been followed by talk of the need to 'execute plans' and Younis rejecting claims of 'groupism'. These have almost become buzzwords for a side struggling to win all tour. Instead of offering excuses and denying rumours, what Pakistan need to do is get back to the basics: bowl straight, field sharply and not throw away wickets. At the Premadasa they have to forget what has gone before and start again.

On the flip side, Sri Lanka can use the two games - and later the one-off Twenty20 - as a celebration of their most successful home series against Pakistan. Kumar Sangakkara's appointment as captain worked instant wonders for the team - they won the Tests and now three ODIs on the trot, their first home series wins over Pakistan. The last two games offer the chance to test their bench strength while aiming to avoid complacency as they chase a clean sweep and keep up the momentum ahead of New Zealand's arrival.

Form guide

(last five matches, most recent first)

Sri Lanka - WWWWL
Pakistan - LLLWL

Upul Tharanga: His 96-ball 76 helped Sri Lanka get off to an outstanding start during their chase of what appeared a stiff 289 in the third game. Once dogged by indifferent shot selection and a tendency to throw it away before settling in, Tharanga displayed maturity in the last game and relied purely on timing and placement than power. With Sanath Jayasuriya's impending retirement Sri Lanka need solidity at the top and this series may prove a welcome return for Tharanga.

Kamran Akmal: He's made 78 in three innings in the series so far, and if his performance does not improve you can be assured Kamran's choir of detractors will chirp up. He did splendidly with bat and glove during Pakistan's victorious ICC World Twenty20 campaign and now, with the series lost, Kamran could do with a big innings under his belt.

Team news

Reports from Colombo say that Umar Gul and Abdul Razzaq will take no further part in the series. Gul is suffering from an ankle injury and Razzaq is down with a calf injury. If they are indeed missing then Pakistan have no option but to recall Yousuf and hand Rao Iftikhar Anjum a game. As for the opening conundrum, Imran Nazir should get a run in the XI. After identical dismissals in consecutive games, steering catches to the slip cordon, Nasir Jamshed has to go.

Pakistan: (likely) 1 Kamran Akmal (wk), 2 Imran Nazir, 3 Younis Khan (capt), 4 Mohammad Yousuf, 5 Shoaib Malik, 6 Umar Akmal, 7 Shahid Afridi, 8 Fawad Alam, 9 Naved-ul-Hasan, 10 Mohammad Aamer, 11 Rao Iftikhar Anjum.

With the series won, Sri Lanka have the luxury of resting a few players if they choose to. Muttiah Muralitharan may make way for Ajantha Mendis or Malinga Bandara.

Sri Lanka: (likely) 1 Upul Tharanga, 2 Mahela Jayawardene, 3 Kumar Sangakkara (capt/wk), 4 Thilan Samaraweera, 5 Chamara Kapugedera, 6 Thilina Kandamby, 7 Angelo Mathews, 8 Thilan Thushara, 9 Nuwan Kulasekara, 10 Dilhara Fernando, 11 Muttiah Muralitharan/Ajantha Mendis.

Weather and conditions

The weather in Colombo at the moment is fairly wet and overcast with only periods of sunshine. Scattered thunderstorms are predicted for Friday and Sri Lanka's chances of victory are greater in a low-scoring contest - their batsmen are more adept at nudging difficult runs and the conditions could aid their fast bowlers. Friday's match is the first day-night affair of the series and the side winning the toss should opt to bat and post a competitive total, hoping their bowlers will have use the conditions under floodlights to put the opposition under pressure.

"We are to blame for this situation because we just didn't play well."
Younis Khan states the obvious