https://arab.news/2mp3f
- Pakistan include Haseebullah Khan, Faisal Akram and Shaheen Shah Afridi in playing XI
- Sri Lanka, who have already lost series 2-0, are playing for pride against hosts Pakistan
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan captain Shaheen Shah Afridi won the toss and elected to field first as the two sides lock horns today, Sunday, in Rawalpindi for the third and final ODI of the three-match series.
Pakistan have won the ODI series against Sri Lanka 2-0, winning the first ODI by six runs and the second by eight wickets.
The Green Shirts have made a few changes to the playing XI for the third match, bringing in wicketkeeper Haseebullah Khan for Mohammad Rizwan, skipper Afridi and spinner Faisal Akram to the playing XI.
“Pakistan win the toss and opt to bowl first in the final ODI,” the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) wrote on social media platform X.
Pakistan will bank on former captain Babar Azam to continue performing in the final ODI of the series. Azam scored a century after 83 innings in the second ODI on Friday night to help Pakistan chase Sri Lanka’s impressive 289-run target.
Thousands of Pakistani fans breathed a sigh of relief when Azam raised his bat for the hundred. The ton came for the former Pakistan captain after 83 international innings and over two years.
After the ODI series, Pakistan will play Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka for a tri-nation series later this month. All matches will take place in Rawalpindi.
Playing XI:
Pakistan: 1 Fakhar Zaman, 2 Haseebullah Khan, 3 Babar Azam, 4 Mohammad Rizwan (wk), 5 Salman Agha, 6 Hussain Talat, 7 Faheem Ashraf , 8 Mohammad Wasim Jr., 9 Haris Rauf, 10 Shaheen Shah Afridi (capt.), 11 Faisal Akram
Sri Lanka: 1 Pathum Nissanka, 2 Kamil Mishara, 3 Kusal Mendis (capt.), 4 Sadeera Samarawickrama, 5 Pavan Rathnayake, 6 Janith Liyanage, 7 Kamindu Mendis, 8 Maheesh Theekshana, 9 Pramod Madushan, 10 Eshan Malinga, 11 Jeffrey Vandersay