Pakistan lose 4th ODI after yet another batting collapse

E-Paper | June 14, 2026

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Kumar Sangakkara scored 97 runs. – Photo by AFP

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka took a 2-1 lead in the one-day international series against Pakistan after winning the fourth ODI by 44 runs as the Pakistani batting collapsed for 199 in Colombo on Saturday.

The hosts set Pakistan a target of 244 in yet another rain-affected match with former captain Kumar Sangakkara scoring 97 and current captain Mahela Jayawardene 40.

Pakistan’s chase received a jolt when Twenty20 captain Mohammad Hafeez was dismissed for 0, his fifth consecutive scoreless innings in ODI cricket. Azhar Ali (81) then combined with Asad Shafiq (25) and captain Misbah-ul-Haq (57) to provide some stability to the chase but was unable to lead his team to victory.

Sri Lankan pacers Lasith Malinga (30-2) and Thisara Perera (42-4) tormented Pakistan again, after unsettling their batting in the second ODI at Pallekele.

Sri Lanka now lead the five-match series 2-1, with Pakistan winning the opening one-dayer by six wickets and Sri Lanka winning the second game by 76 runs in Pallekele.

The third match was abandoned due to rain in Colombo on Wednesday.

The fifth and final ODI will be played at the same venue on Monday.

Pakistan: Misbah-ul-Haq (capt), Mohammad Hafeez, Azhar Ali, Younis Khan, Umar Akmal, Asad Shafiq, Shahid Afridi, Sarfraz Ahmed, Umar Gul, Saeed Ajmal, Sohail Tanvir.

Sri Lanka: Mahela Jayawardene (capt), Tillakaratne Dilshan, Upul Tharanga, Kumar Sangakkara, Dinesh Chandimal, Angelo Mathews, Lahiru Thirimanne, Thisara Perera, Nuwan Kulasekara, Lasith Malinga, Sajeewa Weerakoon.

Umpires: Ranmore Martinesz (SRI) and Paul Reiffel (AUS) TV umpire: Ruchira Palliyaguruge (SRI) Match referee: Chris Broad (ENG)

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Iqbal

Jun 17, 2012 04:54am

Destroyed hafeez by making him a captain and getting him involved with politics. It took them along time to find a reliable opener and now that is lost again. He gets his kicks from bowling. Promote Azhar Ali and Asad Shafiq to open the innings.Let Hafeez play one down till he comeback. Let Umar Akmal sit a few matches and stop making money by selecting players who share their match fees with selectors agents.

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Fen Tian

Jun 17, 2012 08:20am

Without Misbah,Azhar Ali,Asad Shafiq,team score woule have been 11 zeroes.For God sake stop .Only these 3 players scoring in all format and rest 8 just making up the 11 slots needed to make a team.

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Morpheus

Jun 17, 2012 08:47am

Tell me one game in which Umar Akmal and Kamran Akmal played the innings in which Pakistan has won the match. In your mind you will be thinking but there is none. Sarfaraz and Asad are not expetiments they must be the regular part of the team as Sarfaraz is better then Kamran Akmal who regularly drop catches and miss stumps even the batsmen is miles away from crease. I agree with Mohd. Yousuf's idea but it is upto PCB. Akmal's are just politically influenced players nothing more then that. Razzak was being missed but when he left he was'nt performing at all instead Hammad Azam could take his place.

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Morpheus

Jun 17, 2012 08:50am

Hahahaha... True that bro. It takes a lot of efforts to get to the pitch and undone the nations hope and trust that we have in the team which is on the verge of losing. Infact almost lost.

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Muhammad Ali chishty

Jun 17, 2012 08:54am

There appears to be management problems in the team and politics in the field resulting into lack of committment on the part of the players. There should be one captain with full powers and selection committee stops political recommendations. Moreover, players not performing must be removed and new lot be inducted including old players Mohammad Yousuf and Kamran Akmal. Players like Shahid Afridi who are highly politicized must take rest.

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zee

Jun 17, 2012 01:10pm

Umar Akmal has been a total disappointment , he psychologically lacks how to play as per occasion. Hafeez batting has slumped badly he may need to be benched for a series , Younus Khan needs to be just limited to test I think he is done for ODIs totally playing irresponsible cricket. They need to bring Hammad Azam ./ Abdul Razzaq and yes where is Zulqurnain haider I think we need him as our keeper is not even close to a batsman. regarding Afridi he should be just used as opener or one down else we will not see him generating runs. I feel like the game was set !!!

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BaBa Blacksheep

Jun 17, 2012 09:26am

Pakistan desperately needs some aggressive player who can attack on blowers.like Sanga or kholi. In current lot, Younus must be out. Put Hammad in.Underline Afradi and Hafeez.,Find keeper who can also bat too.

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Jawaid

Jun 17, 2012 09:33am

I wonder what the odds were for a Sri Lankan win, when Pakistan were poised for a certain win.

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Nadeem Mirza

Jun 17, 2012 01:35pm

Please don't tell me that Umar Akmal should be dropped as well. He is the only Pakistani batsmen in top 15 ICC ranking in ODI. Next is Misbah who is at #30 in the rankings. I am not big fan of Kamran Akmal's keeping either and only would like to see him in ODIs and 20-20 format for only his batting abilities. Average of ~ 30, which is greater then Younis Khan's, Asad, Sarfaraz, Adnan Akmal and many more. We have good keepers like Sarfaraz and Adnan but unfortunately they are not good keeper batsmen. This day and age you need Dhonis, Bouchers, Gilchrists, Sangas. With the pakistani batting failures Kamran is automatic choice. We should bite the bullet and give him another chance. I know this is a desparate measure. Sanga is still keeping for SL also. Razzak is very handy all rounder. One of the cleanest hitter of the ball. The Youngsters that are coming in are not mentally tough. They should be allowed to nurture under the guidance of seniors like Mohd Yousuf, Razzak, Kamran Akmal etc at least for couple of more series. Come on our batting is so fragile that we failed to chase 81 runs in 78 balls with 8 wickets in hand.

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Dawar

Jun 17, 2012 02:42pm

Azhar Ali played for his own. He played Test inning in One Day. I wonder how will they chase 300 plus runs against Austrlai, SA or England with Azhar Ali and Misbah. They put on too musch pressure on later batsman by their slow innings. Replace Azhar Ali with Shahzeb Hasan or Khalid Latif. Replace Misba with Fawad Alam.

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Hafiz

Jun 17, 2012 02:44pm

Above all pakistani players do not have responsibility. It was so easy match. Can you imagine 7 batsman scored 0. They do not have commitment. I think they need to bring back Imran nazir, Kamran Akmal and Mohammed yousuf instead younus and Sarfaraz.

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Aamir Nawaid

Jun 17, 2012 02:50pm

Umer Akmal and Hafeez must be rested for few series so that they can go back to domestic cricket and re-learn the basics of batting. Younis is a spent force in ODIs. He may however be ok for test cricket. We have only 3 batsmen - Misbah, Azhar and Asad. Rest of them can't even hold the bat properly. We need 3 more solid batsmen and I am sure we can find them in this 180 million strong cricket crazy nation.

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Capt Mansur

Jun 17, 2012 08:09am

Agree with Shahzada.

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Capt Mansur

Jun 17, 2012 08:10am

I agree with you cricketlover.

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shahzada

Jun 17, 2012 07:14am

Afridi should be kicked out. Out fo nine matches he plays he only scores in one match. Enough of his hype and commercials

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cricketlover

Jun 17, 2012 06:40am

What a comment; this seems to be the underlying reason for the debacle witnessed in the 4th ODI wherein the middle order really handed over the game with their inept batting display under mysterious circumstances. Nothing in the wicket really. There appears to be a concentrated effort on the part of some of the players towards ensuring that Misbah DOES NOT get an extended tenure of Pakistan's captaincy. The selectors must give a hard look at the (under)performance of certain players and replace them with those that have a future with the team.

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Nascar

Jun 17, 2012 06:37am

The body language of the players suggest they will play for the national team, get hefty pay from PCB no matter if they dont perform. Bottom line there's no accountability in the board so this the outcome!

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Frank

Jun 17, 2012 06:08am

In my opinion one of the major reason for the collapse was psychological. The fact that Azhar Ali was struggling with running and didn't get a runner was a huge problem for other batsmen because they had to keep in mind that they could not opt for quick singles as they were doing while Misbah was batting. Although it looks minor but psychologically it adds a lot of pressure in a tight game where you now not only have to face your own fears but have to think of your partners condition as well. Besides that I would have opted for Younis to go before Umar Akmal. Also I am not in favor of putting Asad Shafiq at number three, especially when he is not even a regular in the team.

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Naeem

Jun 17, 2012 05:28pm

Two comments onl;y from me. hammad Azam for younis Khan. Kamran Akmal for Sarfaraz!!

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Merchant

Jun 17, 2012 02:22pm

I think this defeat shows nothing but differences and grouping in the team.There is an agenda behind this delibrate batting collapse to remove Misbah from ODI CAPTAIN.There are players like,Afridi,Hafeez,younus and Akmal are the players involved in this conspiracy.The PCB managment are the originator of this conspiracy. First they disturbed winning combination by removing Mohshin as a coach of the team.Then they invite politics by removing Misbah as a captain of the T20. Media and our so called experts are partners of this game.They try to bring Afridi as an ODI captain.This is the last nail in cofine.We have seen the result of these changes.Now the backer of player like Umar Akmal and Afridi should shut up.These players are paper tigers.they did not delivere when it require their services.They do not have temperment to play according to situation. We know these players are taking part in politics. They should be invistigated and banned for year or two. This will give message to others. I think no matter we loose the last game but we should drop younus,Umar Akmal and bring Harris shohail and imran Farhat in the side.we also warn Hafeez and Afridi for their irresponsible game.

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khan

Jun 17, 2012 12:48pm

Since shoaib malik has joined the team....things have gone worse.I feel shoaib malik and akmals are a lethal combination.Afridi is also involved in politics and younis khan is not a one day material anymore.I think the solution would be to throw out malik and akmal brothers completely out of the team ,rest afridi,limit younis to test matches only.Above all i can clearly see that there is a clear agenda behind this performance.....

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Bill

Jun 17, 2012 12:46pm

Agreeeeeeeeeeed only super hype & no substance

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Bill

Jun 17, 2012 12:39pm

Agreeeeeeeeeed only the hype no substance

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gamunu

Jun 17, 2012 02:10pm

I am a Sri Lankan and was confused of Thisara Pereas bowling. He dont swing much. Neither he does generate much pace. Most balls are short pitched and slightly angling away. This is the second time he brought down the Pak middle order. What is his secret? why Pakistanis finding him hard to bat against.

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Abdul Basit Khan

Jun 16, 2012 06:37pm

pakistan could win easily.

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A.Bajwa

Jun 17, 2012 01:44pm

Pakistan was unnerved first by the high target and then by dismissal of the Captain. They did't have the capacity to score fast on the remaining balls and playing slow wouldn't help.

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zaffar nagi

Jun 16, 2012 08:05pm

What a disastrous game it was for Pakistan today.These players should be shown the door.

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Fen Tian

Jun 16, 2012 09:22pm

There need to be more batsman who can perform consistently like Misbah,Azhar Ali,Ashad Shafiq.Others looking like out of sorts and completely lost interest in cricket.Team cannot win with just 2-3 batsman doing bulk of batting all time and rest cooling their feet in dressing room.Needs to improve in big way in modern day cricket.

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farooq

Jun 16, 2012 10:07pm

Afridi should be ODI captain.

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Nadeem Mirza

Jun 16, 2012 10:21pm

Bring Mohd Yousuf (all forms), Kamran Akmal(only for ODIs, and twenty2020), Abdul Razzak(only for ODIs, and twenty2020) back into team in place of Younis Khan (only needed for test), Sarfaraz Ahmed, and Asad Shafiq. Enough experimentations!!! Promote Omar Akmal up in the order.

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Capt Mansur

Jun 16, 2012 10:24pm

I was afraid of this saga. i had written earlier it was a BIG MISTAKE to have two Captains, i.e Hafeez and Misbah. Now the player' s loyalties have been divided.The Players are confused who to listen. This has weakened the Pakistani Cricket Captain so now he has lost control of Team. The Big Bosses have DESTROYED the TEAM spirit created by Misbah. Still not everything is lost. What more must take action??? 1. Drop Younus and bring in Hamad Azam. 2. Make Misbah Captain for all games. 3. Give Misbah the power to select his playing eleven. 4. Selection committee to STOP obliging Politicians and select talent. Pakistan has a lot of talent but the system is dysfunctional and we are just getting AVERAGE players. Take actions immediately.

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imtiaz

Jun 16, 2012 11:22pm

It takes some doing to get 5 ducks in a row, well done Hafeez.

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AMK

Jun 17, 2012 02:00am

Please for God sake get the oldies out - Misbah and Younis - they have done their time and it is now high time that politics be kept aside and bring in young deserving talents such as Hammad Azam.

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Zaffar

Jun 17, 2012 03:34am

They lack three things to Win international cricket-professionalism, focus and fitness

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