No room for complacency

Mohammad Asif has been Pakistan's best bowler by a long shot, but the support staff has been shoddy © Getty Images

A batting masterclass from Sachin Tendulkar gave India the initiative in Lahore, and a 2-1 series lead. Having chased with such aplomb in the last two games, confidence clearly isn't a problem in the Indian camp. Pakistan, bereft of Shoaib Akhtar and Shahid Afridi, suddenly look vulnerable, but even a cursory look at the nation's cricket history will tell you that it's at such moments that they have dug deep and come up with some of their best cricket. India, at the receiving end after leading the corresponding series 2-0 last year, certainly won't allow any trace of complacency to creep in. After the humiliation in the Test series, victory here would offer something by way of compensation.

Better bowling?:
Pakistan's superior bowling resources, ultimately decisive in the Test series, were expected to tilt the scales in their favour in the one-day games as well. But with Shoaib Akhtar not around to lead the line, India have piled on the runs at an astonishing rate of 6.29 over the first three games. With the exception of Mohammad Asif, who appears to get better with every outing, the rest have been caned by Indian batsmen ruthless against any waywardness in line and length. Rana Naved-ul-Hasan, hugely impressive in Pakistan's 4-2 triumph on Indian soil last year, was pulverised in the last game, while Umar Gul is only finding his way back from a long-term injury. Abdul Razzaq continues to snag Tendulkar, without ever looking likely to run through a side. With no Danish Kaneria in the squad, the slow-bowling options are also distinctly mediocre. India's attack has fared little better, with the notable exception of Irfan Pathan, but the expected Pakistani superiority has yet to manifest itself.

All change:
Two consecutive losses have forced the selectors' hands, and Pakistan could see as many as four changes for tomorrow's game. Salman Butt's last two innings have lasted four balls, and Imran Farhat is likely to take his place. Faisal Iqbal has the onerous task of replacing Afridi, while Umar Gul's back injury has resulted in a call-up for Rao Iftikhar Anjum. Mohammad Sami, in the cold since the Lahore Test, is another certainty provided he recovers from fever, with Rana likely to feel the cold shoulder. India have few such worries, with Ajit Agarkar having recovered from his back strain.

Pitch perfect:
The last time India played here, Virender Sehwag thumped 228 on the opening day of a Test to inspire an innings victory in a Test match. Sehwag may be back in Delhi, resting his shoulder before taking on England, but another run-fest is on the cards. The pitch is the colour of caramel cream, and the smattering of dry grass on top won't worry anyone. With the weather also perfect, sunny without being too warm, a batsman that gets set won't be in the mood to leave in a hurry. In such conditions, the toss is unlikely to have much bearing either.

Absent Afridi:
While he didn't fire in the first three games, Afridi clearly preys on the Indian psyche. His 330 runs from just 272 balls in the Test series pretty much ensured that. His loss for the final two games is a massive blow, even if Pakistan can call on Abdul Razzaq and the relatively untested Iqbal for late-innings acceleration.

The Malik factor:
Starting with his stunning innings against India in the Asia Cup of 2004, Shoaib Malik has pillaged the attack remorselessly. And while the bigger names like Inzamam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Yousuf and Younis Khan have yet to make an impact on the series, Malik already has 293 runs stashed away. He made the most of the reprieve that Gautam Gambhir granted him at Lahore, and India simply can't afford such generosity towards a man who truly has the Indian sign on their bowlers.

Sachin Tendulkar has been in fine form, and the stage is set for more © Getty Images

Hometown hero:
The impressive Inzamam-ul-Haq enclosure dominated one sides of this superb venue, and much is expected from one of Multan's favourite sons. His captaincy in the last game was bizarre at times, with a clearly crocked Afridi asked to bowl at a crucial stage, and Rana, who served up tosh all day, entrusted with two vital overs at the end. There have also been three successive failures with the bat, including the Obstructing the Field dismissal at Peshawar. The Indians know better than most though that when he's good, he's nearly peerless. That perfectly executed chase at Ahmedabad last year certainly won't be forgotten anytime soon.

Last but not least:
Such was the resplendence of his batting at the Gaddafi Stadium that it was easy to forget the pressure that Tendulkar had been under before the one-day series. The century at Peshawar was special in its own way, but it was the 95 at Lahore that showcased everything that's best about his batting - the ability to gauge a situation, judgement of length and a range of strokes that most can only dream of. It remains to be seen now whether he can go on and magnify the purple patch, rediscovering the mind-boggling consistency that has eluded him for two seasons.

Teams:

Pakistan (likely): 1 Imran Farhat, 2 Kamran Akmal (wk), 3 Shoaib Malik, 4 Mohammad Yousuf, 5 Inzamam-ul-Haq (capt), 6 Younis Khan, 7 Faisal Iqbal, 8 Abdul Razzaq, 9 Yasir Arafat, 10 Mohammad Sami, 11 Mohammad Asif. Super sub: Rao Iftikhar Anjum.

India (likely): 1 Gautam Gambhir, 2 Sachin Tendulkar, 3 Irfan Pathan, 4 Rahul Dravid, 5 Yuvraj Singh, 6 Mohammad Kaif, 7 Mahendra Singh Dhoni, 8 Suresh Raina, 9 Ajit Agarkar, 10 S Sreesanth, 11 Rudra Pratap Singh. Super sub: Ramesh Powar.