Back to back 50 over matches isn’t something that players like but it’s a side effect of the run for big money that creates a heavily packed calendar. But Sri Lanka still would like not to relent and field their best side today to seal a final berth. They have been the winners thrice and runners up five times in the previous eight editions of the tournament and in all likeliness will keep the trend going.
Bangladesh would look to give in a spirited performance like they did batting against India. They may have a window of opportunity should the Lankans decide to rest a few key players.
Look out For
Kumar Sangakkara – He comes across as a greedy batsman. He doesn’t leave any opportunity to score runs and will be looking to compile another big score against the slightly weaker test playing nation, Bangladesh.
Sanath Jayasuriya – He turns thirty nine today and would be looking to celebrate with a big innings and a big win which would take Sri Lanka into the finals of the Asia Cup.
Mohammad Ashraful – He will have to play a big innings if Bangladesh are to have any chance of beating Sri Lanka. He is batsman with natural flair and can score quickly.
Alok Kapali – He batted wonderfully well in the match against India. He also bowls loopy leg spinners which could be difficult to handle if Bangladesh bowl second.
Verdict: Bangladesh’s only chance to get a win here would be to bat first and score in excess of 275 runs. Even then their bowling might be found wanting. If one of Jayasuriya and Sangakkara get going, they are dead and buried.
India have looked the most impressive team in the tournament so far and this match could be the do or die encounter for Pakistan and Sri Lanka. In all likeliness the team that wins this match will advance to the final along with India. Pakistan would like to reach the finals in the first Asia Cup in Pakistan while Sri Lanka would like to maintain their record of reaching the final in each edition of the Asia Cup.
Pakistan have been hit very badly with the absence of Gul and Asif. Fawad Alam has been dismal to say the least and Pakistan will have to play Saeed Ajmal in his place today. Wahab Riaz will come in place of Gul. Pakistan will bank on Butt, Younis, Yousuf and Malik at the top during batting and on Tanvir and Gul while bowling.
Sri Lanka in fact have a happy problem where they need to find a place for Udawatte in a packed batting order. They probably will leave him out in this match. Absence of Malinga and Maharoof has weakened the bowling a bit and not so good form of Murali isn’t happy news as well but they will look towards Jayasuriya, Vaas and Murali to stand up and be counted in this big match.
Look out For
Shoaib malik - If he stays on the crease with the same grit and determination early on then he will go ballistic later on.
Sohail Tanvir - He hasn’t had the same success after IPL and would be looking to make his mark in this big match.
Sanath Jayasuriya - He was dropped for the series in West Indies and would like to score big here to hit back hard.
Muttiah Muralidharan - Its high time he wields his magic in this tournament or his team could be packing the bags early.
Probable starters:
Pakistan:Salman Butt, Shoaib Malik (C), Younis Khan, Mohammad Yousuf, Misbah-ul-Haq, Shahid Afridi, Sarfraz Ahmed (WK), Sohail Tanvir, Saeed Ajmal, Wahab Riaz, Rao Iftikhar
Verdict: Pakistan started the tournament as a stronger force than Sri Lanka but the exit of Gul has brought the teams on level. An innings from Jayasuriya or Sangakkara at the top might just make it Sri Lanka’s night.
After a not so exciting first round fans will be looking forward to a few intriguing clashes with the four bigger teams, India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Bangladesh in the fray in the Super Four. India and Sri Lanka will start as favorites to move into the finals as they carry two points each from the group phase courtesy wins against Pakistan and Bangladesh respectively.
India and Sri Lanka need to win two of their three matches in Super Four to advance to the final while Pakistan need to win all three to avoid the hassles of net run rate. India and Sri Lanka also need to win at least two of the three matches to reach to the final. Only one win will have them on four points and at a lower net run rate, as the only the points and not the run rate of the match are carried on from the group phase. Amidst all these Bangladesh could spoil the party of one of three giants.
Exploring a possibility where India wins all its matches in the Super Four, interesting implications follow:-
If Sri Lanka defeat Pakistan and Bangladesh, they go through.
If Pakistan wins it’s other two matches and Sri Lanka defeat Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka will be locked at four points each. This situation will favor Pakistan as Sri Lanka will not carry the positive run rate they earned in the first round.
India look the strongest of the three sides and Sri Lanka are the second most favored team to reach the finals. But leaving aside all the possibilities and probabilities the three matches involving the three giants promise a feast ahead.
Pakistan:Salman Butt, Shoaib Malik (C), Younis Khan, Mohammad Yousuf, Misbah-ul-Haq, Shahid Afridi, Fawad Alam, Sarfraz Ahmed (WK), Sohail Tanvir, Umar Gul, Rao Iftikhar
