KARACHI:
Pressure has been growing on Pakistan to seal the eighth and final spot as they go into the second ODI against Sri Lanka in Pallekele on Wednesday, where it is reportedly raining and the match has been delayed.
The venue will evoke fond memories as Pakistan recentlychased down their biggest Test target at Pallekele to win the Test series 2-1, their first Test series win in Sri Lanka for 10 years.
Though Pakistan cannot count on the services of the heroes of that match — Younus Khan and Shaan Masood — they still have likes of ODI skipper Azhar Ali, Sarfraz Ahmed, Yasir Shah and Rahat Ali; all of whom impressed in that Test.
Former cricketer and junior chief selector Basit Ali feels that the team should forget their win in the first match and play every match as if it is a knockout match. “Pakistan must forget their win in the first match and should instead treat every match like a knockout,” Basit claimed.
“It’s good that we won the first game and did well in the Test at Pallekele as well but ODIs are a different ball-game altogether. The white ball behaves differently to the red one, while the second innings will be played under lights. I think the team batting first will have the advantage as it isn’t easy to bat under lights at the venue with the ball moving around.”
