Pakistan Acid Test in World Cup 2011 – Pakistan v Sri Lanka

 

Abdur Razzaq, The power not allowed to unleash properly

Today’s (26-Feb-2011) game is truly an Acid test for Pakistan due to many reasons you can consider. Either it is against home team and one of firm favorites (I rate  Sri Lanka higher than India and Australia in World Cup 2011) or it is their first proper clash not only in World Cup but also after a long time (since South African series as New Zealand is in trouble these days). Another important factor is they will taste everything including swing bowling, freaky slinging fast bowling and toe crushing yorker (if Malinga the Salinga plays which he probably will) spin of legendry Murali, Mendis or Herath and a complete batting line up.

 

 

Let me look little closely into all those factors:

• Sri Lanka is Home: Yes even if Pakistan’s home in this World Cup is Sri Lanka but they can’t claim it against real home team. And for two teams equally placed in strength (almost) home advantage does really count  a lot. Sri Lankan’s will be ecstatic today. Sri Lanka know the conditions little better than Pakistan. Taking about conditions:
• Alien Conditions: Yes Permadasa which was notoriously getting infamous for being unfair to team chasing in light has got renovated, increase of stands, improvement in outfield but most importantly a new re-laid pitch in the middle. So we don’t actually know how it will behave. But Sri Lankan know a little bit about it as they had played a domestic one day tournament here recently. It might not matter much in the end but it is something the home team will be boosting about and can help making plans or Toss.
• Complete Bowling Unit: Sri Lanka really is a complete bowling unit. Add Malinga the salinga in last match XI and got pace attack capable of swinging it early on and restricting with accurate death bowling later. Spin has variety in Murali, Mendis, Herath (left arm). This will be bowling unit to face after some time for Pakistan which also means the improved batting unit of Pakistan will be under scanner.
• Powerfull reliabale batting: Sri Lanka has quite a few reliable batsmen n their ranks. If Dilashan and Tharanga can provide an electric start (not quite as electric as Sanath and Kalu 1996 but good enogh) Sanga and Jaya will bat for long time but at a good pace with  their elegance, grace and calculated risk. Than Samaraweera, Kapugedera and Mathew are capable of accelerating it in the end. Importantly they can play pace and spin equally well. Tough job for Pakistan not so balanced bowling unit.
• Overall Superior: Those days are gone when Pakistan was considered the best Asian / Sub-Continent team as they have dominated Sri Lanka for a long time but recently Sri Lanka is very consistent and professional unit. Expect them to give you a tough any where any time.
• Problems with Pakistan: Not much I must say which is pretty good thing to think of. But yet there are some and interestingly for a team known for winning matches just due to their bowling this time bowling is a bit of worry instead of batting. First of all new ball is always a concern when you are opening with Abdur Razzaq in these conditions and Shoaib is a a trump card we all know he will either get wickets or will leak lot of runs or both. Saeed Ajmal is sitting out  and they are prefering Abdur Rehman just beacuse he had can hit some balls too? Maana is a good bowler but you can’t keep Ajmal out on these pitches this is lame. Team need another full time bowler in it but golden question is where?
• Batting Batting Batting: They have strengthan the batting (too much?) as Razzaq is batting at #8 which is if fascinating but at the same time is odd. Combination is also a worry as think tank also want to seprate super slow (harsh?) reliable Misbah and Younis.
• Special case of Razzaq: Yes he is becoming a very special case as in 8 out of 10 matches you think at the end of the match what Razzaq was doing in this team. 5 overs and a burst in last 5 overs, he doesn’t deserve it he is a much better player than this. I believe if he has been used properly he can reduce a need of an extra batsman. I can even open batting with him but #3 is ideal position for him (1999?) if not than he should and must come before Afridi done and dusted, I am livid with how he has been used. A special player need a special role in team.

All of above if makes this match a first big high profile clash of the World Cup 2011 it also make it a true test of the strength of Pakistan team. It will indicate where they as a team stand what they are lacking and what is needed to be done. Now I simple hope the match is not a bloody one sided affair after all this bragging of mine haha oh and they were saying something about rain in Colombo which I really don’t want to hear. Rains and Sri Lanka not a good idea!!

Interesting thing about today’s match is if just invert the above it will almost be true for Sri Lanka. I don’t like predicting much but I would say Sri Lanka has 65% chances of winning this.

Enjoy the weekend!!!

PS: Discussion forum for the match is open here