Pakistan, Sri Lanka begin ODI battle today in Rawalpindi

Sri Lanka will look to extend their winning run in white-ball cricket when they take on Pakistan in a three-match ODI series, starting Tuesday at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. The second and third ODIs will also be played at the same venue, on November 13 and 15. All three matches are scheduled to begin at 2:30 p.m., with the toss taking place at 2:00 p.m. local time.

The series follows Pakistan’s successful home campaign against South Africa, where the hosts clinched both the T20I and ODI series 2-1. That contest marked Shaheen Shah Afridi’s first assignment as ODI captain, and the left-arm pacer led from the front to guide Pakistan to a memorable series win.

After the ODIs against Sri Lanka, Pakistan will feature in a tri-nation T20I series involving Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe, to be played from November 17 to 29 across Rawalpindi and Lahore.

Historically, Pakistan hold the upper hand in ODI encounters between the two sides. The teams have met 157 times, with Pakistan winning 93 and Sri Lanka 59. One match ended in a tie, while four produced no result. On home soil, Pakistan lead 18-12 from 30 matches.

The last bilateral ODI series between the sides in Pakistan was played in 2019, which Pakistan won 2-0.

Among the current players, Babar Azam boasts an impressive record against Sri Lanka. In 12 ODIs, he has amassed 535 runs at an average of 53.50, including three centuries and a half-century, with a highest score of 115 in Karachi during the 2019 series.

The commentary panel for the upcoming series includes former Pakistan captains Aamir Sohail and Waqar Younis, alongside Sri Lanka’s former Test cricketer Russel Arnold and renowned commentator Roshan Abeysinghe. They will be joined by former Pakistan women’s captain Urooj Mumtaz, while Zainab Abbas will continue as the series presenter.

Squads

Sri Lanka: Charith Asalanka (capt), Pathum Nissanka, Lahiru Udara, Kamil Mishara, Kusal Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Kamindu Mendis, Janith Liyanage, Pavan Rathnayake, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Jeffrey Vandersay, Dushmantha Chameera, Asitha Fernando, Pramod Madushan, Eshan Malinga

Pakistan: Shaheen Shah Afridi (capt), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Faisal Akram, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah, Hussain Talat, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha