Asia Cup 2008 - Super Four match - Pakistan vs Sri Lanka
June 29th, 2008Asia Cup 2008, Super Four, Match 2
Sunday, 29th June 2008
Pakistan v Sri Lanka
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.
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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
Sri Lanka: Sanath Jayasuriya, Kumar Sangakkara (WK), Mahela Jayawardene (C), Tillakratne Dilshan, Chamara Silva, Chamara Kapugedera, Muttiah Muralidharan, Chaminda Vaas, Dilhara Fernando, Ajantha Mendis, Nuwan Kulasekara.
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.
What do you say?
Dr. Mohit Goyal © IPL Cricket Forum
http://www.goyalmohit.blogspot.com/
Posted in Cricket News |