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India look for spark of inspiration
 Colombo,
July 26: Licking the wounds of an embarrassing defeat
at the hands of Pakistan, India will look for a spark of inspiration when they
take on Sri Lanka in a do-or-die Super League match of the Asia Cup cricket
tournament here tomorrow. The Indians have no option but to put it across the
in-form hosts to keep Pakistan away from the summit showdown, a daunting task
for a team which has been struggling to find peak form after a three-month
break.
Captain Sourav Ganguly's sound
of relief in having all fit men for the tournament has come back to haunt him
again as first paceman Zaheer Khan and then middle order batsman V V S Laxman
joined the casualty list. Zaheer has recovered to be available for selection but
Laxman is through with this tournament as his swollen knee has stiffened to the
point where he cannot even bend leave alone play cricket. In case the team
survives tomorrow's crunch day-and-night encounter, it would look for a
replacement for the injured Laxman.
Paceman Laxmipathy Balaji is
certain to face the axe after his dismal figures of none for 61 in seven overs
against Pakistan. Zaheer Khan is tipped to regain his place and India were also
likely to omit either of the two spinners Harbhajan Singh or Anil Kumble. Kumble
has reasserted his importance in the team in the last one season but he still
has not settled doubts about his utility in one-day cricket.
 His
boundary in the final over yesterday did allow India to gain a valuable bonus
point but he is not convincing as a lower order batsman. Sri Lanka on the other
hand could not be in a happier position. Their batting is firing well with
Sanath Jayasuriya back in form with a cracking hundred the other night. Avishka
Gunawardene is a bonus for them in the batting line-up which has players like
Mahela Jayawardene, Kumara Sangakkara and captain Marvan Atapattu. The Lankan
attack is perhaps the best mix in the competition. Chaminda Vaas and Muttiah
Muralitharan have been experienced campaigners but if anything, they have been
upstaged by left-arm pacemen Nuwan Zoysa and new find Ferveez Maharoof.
Zoysa has been difficult to get
off the square because of his nagging line and Maharoof's high-arm action is
forcing the batsmen on the backfoot. The hosts will no doubt go into the match
in a more relaxed frame of mind having assured a berth in the final on August 1,
gathering the maximum 12 points from two matches. India were second with seven
points and a win tomorrow will take them to the final, even if Pakistan collects
the full six points against minnows Bangladesh on Thursday. (Agencies)
Published: Monday, July 26, 2004
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