Crucial game for Sri Lanka

After a four-day break for Vesak, Sri Lanka's festival of lights, the Bank Alfalah Cup resumes on Sunday with all three teams still in the hunt for a place in the final.

Sri Lanka, who were bowled out by Pakistan - the team they face again on Sunday - for a paltry 139 before winning unconvincingly against New Zealand, were the team in most need of a time-out. It remains to be seen, though, whether they've figured out and fixed the causes for their poor batting so far in the tournament.

Sri Lanka have not lost a one-day series at home since July 1998, but they are in danger of doing so here - they are presently in third place, with just five points. New Zealand, thanks to Sri Lanka handing them a bonus point by failing to reach their target within 36.4 overs, top the table with seven points. Pakistan have six.

This means that Sunday's match against Pakistan is now crucial for Marvan Atapattu's side. Even if they win, however, they will not be assured of a place in the final. Ideally, they must win with an extra point.

Their best chance of doing that would be to win the toss. With the remaining four matches now being played in Dambulla because of the poor weather in Colombo, the toss has attained a vital significance. The pitch has offered immense assistance to the fast bowlers early on, and the luckiest tosser will probably lift the trophy.

The daily pattern of morning cloud cover continues in Dambulla and the character of the two new strips prepared is unlikely to change a great deal. Although the pitches are paler in colour - and perhaps slightly drier - Atapattu believes that Sri Lanka's batsmen will still need to adapt their games slightly.

"One conclusion that we have made is that on a wicket like this you are never in - you can get an unplayable delivery at anytime," said Atapattu. "Unlike normal Sri Lankan wickets, you cannot relax once you get to 20 or 30."

Sri Lanka will continue with Romesh Kaluwitharana opening the innings with Sanath Jayasuriya, a change that worked against New Zealand as the pair added 68 for the first wicket, laying the platform for the team's victory. Atapattu will bat at No. 3, with Kumar Sangakkara coming in next.

Sri Lanka's only selection dilemma - assuming Muttiah Muralitharan shrugs off a slight groin niggle - is whether to play a third seamer, Dharshana Gamage or Kaushlya Weereratne, or a spinning allrounder. A final decision will be made after an inspection of the conditions in the morning.

Pakistan, who spent much of the week practicing indoors in Colombo before traveling to Dambulla on Wednesday evening, are likely to play an unchanged side for the third game in a row.

Javed Miandad, their coach, believes that his side hold the upper hand against Sri Lanka. "This is a crucial match for both sides" he said, "but we have the moral advantage after our earlier win. We have the bowlers to win easily but the toss will be important."

Pakistan's key bowler in the conditions will certainly be Shoaib Akhtar, making a comeback into the national side. But is he under pressure to prove a point? Rashid Latif, Shoaib's captain, said, "I don't think he [Shoaib] is feeling any pressure in this series. Other players have taken the pressure off him. He has bowled impressively in both the matches and proved that he is still one of the best strike bowlers in the world. This tour could be the turning point of his career."

While Pakistan's batsmen - especially their inexperienced openers - would find the going difficult if they batted first, it would also be good preparation for the NatWest Challenge in June. The lively wickets in Dambulla are similar to the ones Pakistan are likely to encounter in England.

Probable teams
Sri Lanka 1 Romesh Kaluwitharana (wk), 2 Sanath Jayasuriya, 3 Marvan Atapattu (Capt), 4 Kumar Sangakkara, 5 Mahela Jayawardene, 5 Tillakaratne Dilshan, 7 Kumar Dharmasena, 8 Chaminda Vaas, 9 Dharshana Gamage, 10 Prabath Nissanka, 11 Muttiah Muralitharan.

Pakistan 1 Taufeeq Umar, 2 Mohammad Hafeez, 3 Younis Khan, 4 Yousuf Youhana, 5 Faisal Iqbal, 6 Shoaib Malik, 7 Abdul Razzaq, 8 Rashid Latif (Capt and wk), 9 Umar Gul, 10 Shoaib Akhtar, 11 Mohammad Sami.