https://arab.news/g5378
- Sri Lanka wins toss and fielding first against Pakistan in 1st ODI
- xPakistan replace leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed with right-arm fast bowler Naseem Shah
RAWALPINDI, Pakistan: Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to field against Pakistan in their one-day international on Tuesday.
Captain Charith Asalanka said he expected dew later in the night at Pindi Cricket Stadium and was encouraged to bowl first.
Ace leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga has returned to the ODI format and a debut was handed to 24-year-old left-handed opener Kamil Mishara.
Pakistan made one forced change from the team which won the third and decisive ODI against South Africa last Saturday. Leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed, who bagged a career-best 4-27 on Saturday, was unwell and replaced by fast bowler Naseem Shah.
In the absence of specialist spinner Abrar, Pakistan will bank on spin all-rounders Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha and Mohammad Nawaz.
Rawalpindi will host all the three ODIs in the series this week before Zimbabwe joins Pakistan and Sri Lanka for a Twenty20 tri-series.
Pakistan, led by new ODI captain Shaheen Shah Afridi, turned around its below-par performances in 2025 by beating a depleted South Africa 2-1 last week.
Lineups:
Pakistan: Fakhar Zaman, Saim Ayub, Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Salman Ali Agha, Hussain Talat, Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Shah Afridi (captain), Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah.
Sri Lanka: Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara, Kusal Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka (captain), Janith Liyanage, Kamindu Mendis, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dushmantha Chameera, Maheesh Theekshana, Asitha Fernando.