Pakistan will take on Sri Lanka in the fifth match of the ODI tri-series at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium on Tuesday, having already secured a place in the final after winning their first three matches.
The hosts defeated Sri Lanka by 37 runs in their previous meeting, powered by Salman Ali Agha’s 107 off 90 deliveries, which featured nine fours and a six. Captain Shaheen Shah Afridi led the bowling attack with three wickets.
Shaheen has claimed seven wickets in three matches during the tournament. He also became Pakistan’s fastest fast bowler to reach 150 ODI wickets after dismissing England’s Tom Banton in the opening over of Sunday’s match.
The left-arm pacer has taken 20 wickets in seven ODIs at Gaddafi Stadium. He needs four more to surpass former Pakistan great Wasim Akram, who claimed 23 wickets at the venue.
Tuesday’s encounter will be the 162nd ODI between Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Pakistan have won 97 of the previous 161 matches, compared with Sri Lanka’s 59 victories. One match ended in a tie, while four had no result.
Pakistan enter the fixture on the back of a dramatic one-wicket victory over England on Sunday. Shadab Khan struck his maiden ODI century, scoring an unbeaten 113 off 96 balls, including 13 fours and five sixes.
He shared an unbroken 89-run partnership for the 10th wicket with Haris Rauf, who contributed seven not out off 19 deliveries, to steer Pakistan to a memorable win.
Pakistan squad
The updated squad for the tri-series comprises Shaheen Shah Afridi (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Salman Ali Agha, Arafat Minhas, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Maaz Sadaqat, Muhammad Ghazi Ghori (wicketkeeper), Haris Rauf, Hasan Nawaz, Naseem Shah, Razaullah, Saad Baig (wicketkeeper), Sahibzada Farhan and Shadab Khan.
Remaining tri-series fixtures
October 27: Pakistan vs Sri Lanka — Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
October 29: Sri Lanka vs England — Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
October 31: Tri-series final — Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
Pakistan have already qualified for the final after winning their opening three matches, while Sri Lanka and England will contest their remaining league fixture before the tournament concludes.
