Sri Lanka Elects to Bowl in First ODI Against Pakistan!
In Rawalpindi, Sri Lanka won the toss and chose to bowl first against Pakistan in the opening One Day International (ODI) of their series. This marks Sri Lanka's first bilateral series in Pakistan since 2019. Historically, Pakistan holds a strong 18-12 win-loss record when playing at home.
Sri Lankan captain Charith Asalanka cited the potential for dew later in the evening as the key reason behind his decision to bowl first. Pakistan's Shaheen Shah Afridi admitted he would have also preferred to bowl first, forecasting a high-scoring match.
Team Lineups and Changes
Pakistan has made one change from their previous ODI victory against South Africa. Abrar Ahmed is out due to illness and is replaced by Naseem Shah. Sri Lanka welcomes Kamil Mishara for his ODI debut, and Wanindu Hasaranga also joins the squad. Janith Liyanage and the injured Dilshan Madushanka are the players making way.
Pitch Conditions and Expectations
The Rawalpindi pitch is anticipated to favor high scores. In the past three matches, teams chasing have been successful. A score exceeding 300 is likely necessary for the team batting first, especially considering the expected dew under the lights. The weather conditions are currently bright and warm.
Playing XI
- Sri Lanka XI: Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara, Kusal Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Liyanage, Kamindu Mendis, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dushmantha Chameera, Maheesh Theekshana, Asitha Fernando
- Pakistan XI: Fakhar Zaman, Saim Ayu, Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Salman Agha, Hussain Talat, Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah
Stay tuned for more updates on this exciting ODI match!