Sri Lanka v Pakistan, 1st ODI - 07 June 2012

Following the drawn T20 series, Pakistan and Sri Lanka now face off in the longer version of the shorter format of the game. Despite the teams being evenly matches in the T20s, Pakistan will go into the one-dyers with a slight upper hand. This is because, they are the only team to have a great record against the Lankans even in the latter’s home den. Further, Pakistan have won five of the last six games played between the two sides. This, however, is an altogether new series and Sri Lanka would be looking to make a fresh start.


For the Lankans to do well, they will need good support for their two key players Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara. More often than not in Pakistan-Lanka contests, the two stalwarts have risen to the occasion only for the others to let the team down. This team has a more balanced look though and hence Jayawardene would be hopeful of himself and Sangakkara getting good back up. Significantly, they will want both Jayawardene and Sangakkara to be on top of their game.


A big reason for Sri Lanka's revival was contributions from players like Dinesh Chandimal and Lahiru Thirimanne, who took the burden off the senior batsmen. The support cast grew in confidence and the allrounders provided good balance in foreign conditions. However, Sri Lanka ran out of steam during the third final of the CB series and arrived in Bangladesh for the Asia Cup looking jaded and lost all three games. Despite the heartening performance in Australia, Sri Lanka have a lot of catching up to do, having won only eight of their last 24 games. Their key players, who were part of the IPL, will also have to make the adjustment from Twenty20 cricket to the 50-over format.


Pakistan's recent form has been more impressive. After suffering a 4-0 loss against England in the UAE, they won the Asia Cup in a close final against Bangladesh. The ODI squad led by Misbah-ul-Haq is stronger than their experimental Twenty20 team as well, and it has been strengthened by Sohail Tanvir's retention. Tanvir impressed during his Twenty20 comeback and was chosen as a replacement once opening batsman Nasir Jamshed was injured. Pakistan are a batsman short, though, and could be stretched if Misbah and younis Khan fail. It will be up to the unpredictable Umar Akmal and Shahid Afridi to step up.