London: England captain Paul Collingwood faces a test of his leadership credentials ahead of their ICC World Twenty20 clash with Pakistan at the Oval after their shock loss to the Netherlands.
Friday's stunning four-wicket defeat by the minnows in the tournament opener at Lord's means England cannot afford another reverse on Sunday if they are to progress to the second round Super Eight phase.
England, surprisingly, left out off-spinner Graeme Swann and all-rounder Dimitri Mascarenhas from their team that played the Dutch while star batsman Kevin Pietersen was ruled out with an Achilles tendon injury.
South Africa born shotmaker Pietersen, who remains doubtful for Sunday's match, is capable of clearing the ropes - something England lacked against the Dutch, with the visitors' scoring four sixes to the hosts' none.
But equally concerning for England was the way in which they were unable to defend a score of 162/5, with the Dutch getting home off the last ball thanks in part to a series of fielding errors by England quick Stuart Broad.
England have often given the impression in recent years that their focus is solely on the upcoming Test series against Australia, which starts in July.
But Collingwood denied England were obsessed with the Ashes to the exclusion of all else.
Pakistan will be playing their first match of the tournament proper on Sunday. They come into the game on the back of two heavy warm-up losses to South Africa (59 runs) and arch-rivals India (nine wickets).
But if any team in world cricket can find their form when needed with little in the way of prior warning then it is Pakistan.
Pakistan batsman Misbah-ul-Haq, like Alam speaking before Friday's stunning upset, said a tough warm-up programme could work in the side's favour.
Pitch and conditions
The weather for the weekend is grim to say the least, with torrential rain forecast throughout the night on Saturday. Nevertheless, the clouds are expected to clear before the evening, which means a full match could take place, in conditions tailor-made for swing. Step forward, Anderson and Sidebottom.
Match facts
Sunday June 07, 2009 (day/night)
Start time 17.00 local, 16.00GMT