A glance at today's game

Break the losing streak Pakistan were on a high when they traveled to Sri Lanka after winning the ICC Twenty20 World Cup in England. However they have got a rude awakening, if indeed they got one, to the fact that complacency can have dire consequences after losing the Test series 2-0 and being 3-0 in the best of five ODI series. The fourth ODI will be played today in Colombo and will be a day and night encounter. Pakistan may have lost the series but they will have to play for pride. The visitors have been dealt injury blows with both fast bowler Umar Gul (ankle) and all rounder Abdur Razzaq (calf) out for the rest of the ODI series. Nothing much has gone right for Pakistan so far and these injuries won't make the job any easier. Pakistanis are looking low and need to lift themselves up for these remaining games. Rana Naved is there while Rao Iftikhar will be expected to come in for Abdul Razzaq. Pakistan should definitely look to bring in Mohammad Yousuf to lend stability to the middle order. He should replace either Shoaib Malik or Fawad Alam both of whom look out of form and out of sorts. In the third game while the batting clicked it was the bowling that flopped. The bowlers will have to lift their game and it will have to be a combined team effort for a win. Shahid Afridi has been disappointing with the ball so far the series and a good show from him can definitely lift the team's performance and morale. Pakistan need some individual brilliance which can reignite the spark within them. Imran Nazir should be given a chance at the top as a typical madcap knock by him can give the team the required fillip. Sri Lankans can't do any wrong these days. The batting form of Mahela Jayawardene was a concern for them but that has been done with after he scored a match winning hundred in the last game. Sri Lankans might rest some of their top players and give a chance to others as they did in third game. The pitch at Premadasa Stadium supports batsmen with bowling under lights a touch difficult due to dew factor. A Any team winning the toss will be aiming to bat first and put a decent total on board. Pakistan should aim to do the basics right and give a concerted team effort. A win here might not erase the earlier setbacks but will surely give the team some sort of confidence for future assignments. Sri Lankans will be on a high but Pakistan should still aim and give it their all.

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