Pakistan eye winning momentum in ODI series against Sri Lanka

Pakistan will look to continue their winning momentum at home in white-ball cricket as they face Sri Lanka in the three-match ODI series starting from November 11 in Rawalpindi.

The Men in Green defeated South Africa in the recently-concluded ODI series by 2-1 in Faisalabad, and also won the T20I series before that.

Meanwhile, the 50-over series between Pakistan and Sri Lanka will be played at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on November 11, 13, and 15.

In their ODI history, Pakistan and Sri Lanka have met 157 times, with Pakistan securing 93 wins and Sri Lanka 59. Four matches ended without a result.

The hosts, under the leadership of the newly-appointed skipper Shaheen Shah Afridi, look the stronger side not only due to home advantage, but also due to the unavailability of Dilshan Madushanka and Matheesha Pathirana for Sri Lanka.

Madushanka, the left-arm pacer who has taken 50 wickets in 28 ODIs, has been ruled out due to a knee injury, with Eshan Malinga being his replacement. While Matheesha Pathirana will miss the tour as he recovers from an upper respiratory tract infection, Asitha Fernando has been brought in as his replacement.

Pakistan, who have fared well in the 50-over format this year after two remarkable series wins in late 2024 in Australia and South Africa, registered their first ODI series victory of this year, having faced a group stage exit in the Champions Trophy 2025 and a 2-1 series defeat in the West Indies.

Before the series against the Proteas, Mohammad Rizwan was removed as ODI captain, being replaced by Shaheen Shah Afridi — a decision that sparked a lot of debate.

However, under Shaheen, the green shirts managed to overcome South Africa, winning the first ODI by holding their nerves in a last-over thriller by two wickets, and one-sidedly winning the series-deciding last game by seven wickets.

With white-ball success against South Africa, Pakistan look favorites over Sri Lanka before the action shifts to a three-nation tri-series involving Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Zimbabwe in Rawalpindi and Lahore from November 17.

Conditions

The pitch at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium has been batting-friendly, with scores exceeding 200 in T20Is and 300 in ODIs on most occasions.

Unlike the Iqbal Stadium pitch in Faisalabad, where there was spin and turn, the surface in Rawalpindi might prove to be a decent one for batting, with the new ball doing a bit early on, and dew could be a factor at night.

Pakistan’s Updated ODI Squad:

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

Sri Lanka’s ODI squad:

Charith Asalanka (C), 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.