Pakistan Weigh Changes for Sri Lanka Tri-Series Clash
Pakistan are expected to make changes to their playing side when they meet Sri Lanka in their last league match of the ODI tri-series at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Tuesday, 27 October. The match starts at 1pm Pakistan time.
Pakistan have already qualified for the final. They have won all three of their matches so far. Tuesday’s game, therefore, will serve as preparation for the final on 31 October at the same venue. For Sri Lanka, the stakes are far higher.
Why Tuesday matters for Sri Lanka
A win for Sri Lanka on Tuesday would secure their place in the final against Pakistan. If Sri Lanka lose, England will still have a route into the final. England face Sri Lanka in their last league match on Thursday, and a win there would keep their hopes alive.
That equation shapes the contest. Pakistan can test players without risking their place in the final. Sri Lanka cannot afford the same freedom.
Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by 37 runs in the series opener at Rawalpindi, after scoring 305 runs. They then beat England by 87 runs, again after passing 300, before Sunday’s dramatic one-wicket win over England in Lahore. Those three results explain why Pakistan can afford to rotate.
Saim Ayub out, Sahibzada Farhan in
Left-handed opener Saim Ayub was released from the squad on Monday, after a difficult run with the bat. He asked to return to domestic cricket to work on his form and regain confidence, and the team management and selection committee accepted his request.
Sahibzada Farhan has replaced him in the squad. Farhan led Pakistan’s Twenty20 side to a 2-1 series win over Sri Lanka in Rawalpindi, but he was not in the original ODI squad because that squad had been announced earlier. He now has an opportunity to feature on Tuesday.
Maaz Sadaqat, another hard-hitting left-handed opener, is also in the squad as cover for players carrying minor fitness concerns.
Fakhar Zaman has scored only 26 runs in three matches. Babar Azam failed to convert promising starts in the first two matches, and then fell for ten against England on Sunday. The Tribune preview suggests Pakistan should consider promoting Salman Ali Agha higher in the batting order, because he is in strong form and could add stability at the top.
That suggestion is opinion, not a confirmed team decision. The playing side for Tuesday had not been announced when the preview was published. What is clear is that the top order is the main concern for a side that has won three matches in a row.
Bowling changes and the Naseem Shah question
Naseem Shah, who dislocated a finger on his left hand, is unlikely to return for Tuesday’s match. His absence would open the door for the younger fast bowlers who have already impressed in this series.
Razaullah took two wickets for 38 runs on his debut against England on Sunday. Shaheen Shah Afridi made the most of the same helpful conditions, taking four wickets for 46 runs. He had also taken three wickets for 55 runs against Sri Lanka earlier in the series.
Sri Lanka arrive in strong form
Sri Lanka lost the opener, but in their previous match they completed a record chase of 430 runs against England. That total stands as the second-highest successful run chase in one-day international history.
Pavan Rathnayake scored 130 runs in that match. Avishka Fernando and Dasun Shanaka each scored 97, and Janith Liyanage added 61. Those four innings showed both power and control, and they highlighted the batting intelligence that Sri Lanka will bring to Lahore.
Sri Lanka will also need to bowl well against a Pakistan side that still has in-form players in its ranks. Hasan Nawaz, Salman Ali Agha, Arafat Minhas and Shadab Khan have all contributed with the bat in this series. Shadab’s unbeaten 113 against England on Sunday, in a one-wicket win, remains the standout innings of the tournament so far.
Tuesday’s match will test whether Pakistan can keep that momentum while changing their side.
When and where is the Pakistan Sri Lanka tri-series match?
Pakistan face Sri Lanka at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Tuesday, 27 October, with the match starting at 1pm Pakistan time.
What does Sri Lanka need to reach the tri-series final?
Sri Lanka must beat Pakistan on Tuesday to secure a place in the final on 31 October. If they lose, England can still qualify by beating Sri Lanka on Thursday.
