Dhaka, Mar 14: The ever-so-unpredictable Pakistan face their first big test of the tournament when they take on an injury-hit Sri Lankan team, which was outclassed by India in its lung-opener, in an Asia Cup league match here tomorrow.
Pakistan started their campaign on a winning note by beating Bangladesh even though it was a close shave for them given the home team's fighting performance in a steep chase.
Sri Lanka, on the other hand, failed in the chasing job against India.
Faced with a mammoth 304, the islanders fell short by 50 runs despite the fact that they have a batting order that runs deep and was expected to click in the familiar sub-continental environs.
But for the sheer unpredictability of Pakistan, both the teams seem quite a match for each other on paper.
Even Pakistan has a long batting order to boast off and they have the destructive Shahid Afridi, who can snatch a game but, like his team, is not consistent enough.
He can be the game-changer one day but can also be a complete letdown the next. But Pakistan can bank on his leg-break bowling which comes in handy almost always.
Their openers notched up good scores against Bangladesh but the experienced middle-order comprising the likes of Younis Khan and Misbah-ul Haq failed to fire.
The bowling too was unimpressive against a side which is considered a minnow at the international level.
Pace spearhead Umar Gul was expensive and would have to get his act together quickly as his form is crucial to the team's chances.
Sri Lanka, meanwhile, also have major bowling issues to deal with.
Their bowling attack, sans Lasith Malinga, came a cropper on a placid track and allowed the Indians to plunder runs in the lung-opener.
