Can Sri Lanka stem the rot? (Preview)

Over the years, Pakistan earned themselves the reputation of being an unpredictable side whose performances can swing from outstanding to ordinary in a matter of days let alone controlling things over a considerable period of time. But, that notion is gradually losing currency as the mercurial side seems to have found a unifying leader in the form of Misbah-ul-Haq. Ever since that man has taken command, they have looked a different unit altogether-players are enjoying their cricket, they are celebrating for each other’s success, even Shahid Afridi’s return has happened without any perceptible change in the team atmosphere.

Contrarily, Sri Lanka are fast losing steam, be it successive Test and ODI series losses against England and Australia or the more recent struggles against Pakistan, the Islanders seem to have lost their famed fighting qualities. The first match of the one-day series being a case-in-point, they just capitulated on a good batting pitch to be bowled out for a pedestrian 131.

One thing Sri Lanka will to have to think about is their shot selection which in the first match was pathetic, only one or two batsmen fell to good balls, the rest just played ordinary shots of missed simple deliveries. At the top, Skipper Tillakaratne Dilshan is the one who needs to lead with example- score runs through judicious shots. Senior pros Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene have to fire if their team wants to salvage some pride in the ODI series after falling flat on their face in the Tests.

For Pakistan, the bowlers have been the real stars thus far. Be it Umar Gul, Aizaz Cheema or Saeed Ajmal, the opposition batsmen have not been allowed to breathe easy. The constant pressure applied by pacemen and spinners alike has resulted in wickets, ten of them came as Sri Lanka could only manage eight hits past the ropes in the first one-dayer. And, return of all-rounders of the class of Afridi and Abdul Razzaq has bolstered what now looks a formidable bowling unit.

As of now, Pakistan hold all the aces given their strong bowling but Sri Lanka would be desperate to get off the mark in the five match series.

Pakistan Squad: Misbah-ul-Haq (Capt), Shahid Afridi, Mohammad Hafeez, Imran Farhat, Younis Khan, Umar Akmal, Shoaib Malik, Sarfraz Ahmed (wk), Saeed Ajmal, Abdur Rehman, Umar Gul, Aizaz Cheema, Junaid Khan, Sohail Tanvir, Abdul Razzaq, Asad Shafiq

Sri Lanka Squad: Tillakaratne Dilshan (Capt), Upul Tharanga, Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara (wk), Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal, Jeevan Mendis, Kosala Kulasekara, Lasith Malinga, Suranga Lakmal, Thisara Perera, Seekkuge Prasanna, Dimuth Karunaratne, Dilhara Fernando, Suraj Randiv