COLOMBO, July 20: Pakistan hardly met any resistance in disposing of minnows Bangladesh and first-timers Hong Kong in the preliminary round of Asia Cup matches but face their first real test on Wednesday when they tackle hosts Sri Lanka in the Super League day/night encounter at the R. Premadasa Stadium.
No one expected miracles either from Bangladesh or Hong Kong and Pakistan barely had to sweat for their comprehensive victories. The only way those two matches would have produced shock results if the Pakistanis decided otherwise as they did against Bangladesh during the 1999 World Cup in England.
Yet, those two outings offered Pakistan the best possible opportunity to acclimatise themselves to the hot and humid conditions of Sri Lanka as well as get the much-needed practice after an idle period of three months.
Although the batting and bowling departments seemed adequate, the same could not be said about Pakistan's out cricket, an essential requirement in the one-dayers. Here Pakistan still show that much work is needed to improve their ground fielding and catching. Besides the team management must be worried over the spate of extras conceded in both the matches.
Against Sri Lanka lapses in the field and excess number of extras conceded could prove decisive as the home team is much better outfit in these aspects of the game. One can hope that the hiring of three high-profile foreigners will have its desired impact on this vital area of cricket.
There should not be any excuses in case our boys do badly in the field which has been the Achilles heel of Pakistan cricket over the decades. Pakistan captain Inzamamul Haq said his team needed to win against Sri Lanka in order to boost their confidence for the rest of the tournament.
"The first match in the Super League is important," Inzamam said. "If we win, our confidence will soar for the game against India." Inzamam said he was relieved Pakistan were not the tournament favourites since it allowed them to perform in pressure-free conditions.
"We are happy that all the attention is on India and Sri Lanka and that allows us to play without pressure," he said. Man for man Pakistan are definitely better than the Islanders but what the hosts lack they make up with their outstanding effort in the field and work for each other which cannot be said about our boys who more often than not show individual brilliance but not as a well-knit unit.
The Pakistan camp has no injury problems and all indications point out that the team management will go into this crucial tie with three specialist seamers in Shoaib Akhtar, Mohammad Sami and Shabbir Ahmed with back-up support from all-rounders Abdul Razzaq and Shoaib Malik.
Sri Lanka are confident that skipper Marvan Atapattu and master blaster Sanath Jayasuriya will be fit for the match. Atapattu did not field for the most part of Indian innings because of a sore throat while Jayasuriya missed the match due to back trouble.
The experts are cagey about predicting the outcome of this match as both teams on their day are capable of beating the best, especially in one-dayers. However, with the presence of Muttiah Muralitharan and Shoaib Akhtar anything can happen.
Another key factor here could be the weather. It rained on Tuesday with chances of more showers on Wednesday. On the other hand, if one accepts the curator's words and the past results then it will be a high-scoring match with the team batting first having slight advantage as batting under light does pose problems at this ground.
TEAMS (FROM):
SRI LANKA: Marvan Atapattu (captain), Sanath Jayasuriya, Avishka Gunawardene, Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara, Tillekeratne Dilshan, Upul Chandana, Chaminda Vaas, Farveez Maharoof, Nuwan Zoysa, Muttiah Muralitharan, Saman Jayantha.
PAKISTAN: Inzamamul Haq (captain), Imran Farhat, Yasir Hameed, Yousuf Youhana, Younis Khan, Shoaib Malik, Abdul Razzaq, Moin Khan, Shoaib Akhtar, Mohammad Sami, Shabbir Ahmed, Danish Kaneria, Imran Nazir.
Umpires: Billy Bowden (New Zealand) and Peter Parker (Australia).
TV umpire: A.F.M. Akhtaruddin (Bangladesh).
Match referee: Mike Procter (South Africa).
TODAY'S FIXTURES:
• Bangladesh v India
(SSC, Colombo)
• Pakistan v Sri Lanka
(RPS, Colombo, D/N).