Pakistan take on Lanka in Singapore

Singapore, March 31: The stage is set for fireworks at the Padang where Pakistan take on the newly-crowned world champions, Sri Lanka, in the opening, match of the three-nation one-dayer. It is an important and tough inaugural for Pakistan; a win will boost Pakistan`s morale and chances in the tournament, a loss will have an opposite effect.

The wicket is solid and tailor-made for the batsmen while the ground is not of international standards by any means. It is a 65-yard ground, more an oval-shaped, with either side of the wicket not more than 58 yards.

After having a look at the ground, one is forced to question the logic and wisdom of staging an international competition here with arch-rivals playing and enthusiasts of the game back home anxiously looking forward to settle World Cup scores - Pakistan from India and India from Sri Lanka.

It is anybody`s guess what an uproar will be raised in Pakistan and India if Sri Lanka once again ran away with the honours. After the end of the competition, some of the critics will be after the skippers and the others would be gunning after the managers. But no one will take into account the playing problems the teams are confronted with.

It is also very surprising to note that the International Cricket Council (ICC) gave the go-ahead to the tough competition without consulting the technical people who are supposed to have a look at the venue before giving a clean signal.

When further investigations were carried out, it came into knowledge that it is, in fact, a soccer field and two weeks ago a soccer tournament was played on it. The only reason for staging the event here appears to be a tussle between the sponsors and the CBFS. The latter turned down the Singer offer and instead awarded the sponsorship rights to Pepsi who are the sponsors of the Sharjah Cup to be played between April 11 and 19.

The people here in Singapore are also unaware of what cricket is. There were quite a few spectators at the stadium watching the preparation in surprise. The level of knowledge of the people about the game can be gauged from the fact that a couple of people have been asking about the result of the recently-concluded World Cup.

The arrangements here have also been done on a makeshift basis. There are no proper stands and pavilions for the spectators and to overcome the problems a temporary arrangement has been done. Similar is the case with the players dressing rooms. At the moment it appears that they will have to change kits in the open air.

"We are professional cricketers and are supposed to appear and perform under any condition and facility," Pakistan skipper Aamir Sohail said on Monday, admitting that under the conditions here it would be luck instead of the skills that would decide the outcome of the matches as well as the tournament.

Aamir Sohail`s counterpart, Arjuna Ranatunga, had smiles on his face. However, he neither criticised the arrangements nor said that the conditions would give his team an extra edge. "It will be cricket that will get a boost here," he instead said.

But Ranatunga knows that these conditions will prove beneficial to his players, especially Romesh Kaluwitharana, Sanath Jayasuriya and Aravinda de Silva.

Although neither of the two teams has announced the outfits for Monday`s game, Pakistan are certain to leave out Basit Ali and Ataur Rahman. The third player to miss the final 11 is expected to be Mushtaq Ahmad.

Sri Lanka are certain to retain the same side which won the World Cup final at Lahore on March 17. And there appears no logic for changing the team because they have made a good winning combination and neither of their players is facing any injury problem.

The Pakistan formation will have to exhibit its true potential, both in batting and bowling. Perhaps the batsmen can exploit the friendly strip. Bowling may be a bit difficult since fielding is Pakistan`s weak point. Contrariwise the Sri Lankans will prove a tough proposition as in the World Cup with their powerful batting lineup. Their lively fielding will aid and assist the bowling.

However, a cricket triangular so early after the World Cup will be interesting for the residents here, even though they may not turn up in large numbers.

Pakistan: Aamir Sohail (captain), Saeed Anwar, Ejaz Ahmad, Inzamamul Haq, Salim Malik, Ramiz Raja, Rashid Latif (wicketkeeper), Saqlain Mushtaq, Waqar Younis, Aqib Javed and Mohammad Akram.

Sri Lanka: Romesh Kaluwitharana, Sanath Jayasuriya, Asanka Gurusinha, Aravinda de Silva, Arjuna Ranatunga (captain), Roshan Mahanama, Hashan Tillekeratne, Chaminda Vass, Kumar Dharmasena, Muttiah Muralitharan, Promodiya Wickremasinghe.

Umpires: Russell Tiffin (Zimbabwe) and David Orchard (South Africa).

TV Umpire: George Sharpe (England).

Match Referee: Howard Gardiner (Zimbabwe).