ICC CT 2017 | Sri Lanka vs Pakistan | 12th June, 2017 | Cardiff | Pre-Match Thread

[Savak]

Unfortunately Azhar Ali is just not good enough for the modern ODI format. While Hafeez is also not good enough but he gives us a much needed economical bowling option which is really invaluable, i would personally want Faheem Ashraf in the side, we need a power hitter in the team down the order and he provides an extra bowling option as well.

We have to be ruthless in the next few games of the CT and i believe this is the best possible combination we can put up with in the tournament.

1) Hafeez
2) Fakhar Zaman
3) Babar Azam
4) Sarfaraz
5) Malik
6) Imad Wasim
7) Fahim Ashraf
8) Shadab Khan
9) Mohd Amir
10) Hasan Ali
11) Junaid Khan

This line up gives us 9 to 10 batting options, we have 5 full time confirmed bowlers i.e. Junaid, Amir, Hasan, Faheem, Shadab, we have a reliable part timer in Hafeez and Imad Wasim an option to try Malik. There is no need for Azhar Ali in the team.

Hafeez if he gets going can score decently but Azhar Ali looks out of his depth and his inclusion is adding no real meaning to the ODI team.

 

[Haroon786]

I agree with this.

Despite winning, we still need to be on our toes and constantly looking for improvements - slowly, dismissing the two obvious remaining liabilities in the team should be the first of these improvements.

 

[pakistanigoneaussie]

will never happen

Azhar's 50 bought him the rest of the tour and Professor is the real golden boy of Pak cricket not babar or amir

in an ideal world i would agree with op completely, for me Ashraf is a better option than haris. Love Haris but i feel this tournament is to early for him

 

[Hamza_]

Agreed. We must get in Fahim.

 

[Speedster777]

Our batting is weak. Hafeez and Azhar should be dropped or atleast one of them. Bring in fahim Ashraf. We do not have any lower order big hitter. Look at Miller's innings today this is what we lack. After Sarfraz it's all tail. Hafeez is a waste of spot.

 

[mhraja]

Fahim is not a batting allrounder. He is a bowling allrounder. Only have one 50+ score in List A if I am not mistaken. If he is in team he can be in for Imad or Shadab.

Harris should replace one of Hafeez or Azhar if they are to be replaced.

 

[QalandarFan]

Yes it is the best XI we can put out there with our current squad.

 

[boomboom6]

I was just thinking this as well ... Even though I want Hafeez dropped for good and Haris to replace him I just don't see the guts in Arthur n Sarf to do this so best possible XI for remainder of the tournament will be:

Fakhar
Hafeez
Babar
Malik
Sarfraz
Fahim
Imad
Shadab
Amir
Hasan
Junaid

Ideally you'd have Sarf opening with Fakhar with Haris slotting in 4 for Hafeez and Fahim taking Sarf's #6 position for slogging/finishing.

 

[marlonbrowndo]

No. Azhar out, Haris in. Hafeez opens and Haris bats at 4

 

[tahir_dj]

thats what i am so confused about
after playing so well against Bangladesh even though it was a warm up match he did not get a game against India and even today against S.africa.

one of the hafeez or Azhar need to be dropped for him

 

[GLORY OF '92]

Not playing Fahim will cost us against SL or the Semis.

It's obvious.

 

[mhraja]

I was just thinking this as well ... Even though I want Hafeez dropped for good and Haris to replace him I just don't see the guts in Arthur n Sarf to do this so best possible XI for remainder of the tournament will be:

Fakhar
Hafeez
Babar
Malik
Sarfraz
Fahim
Imad
Shadab
Amir
Hasan
Junaid

Ideally you'd have Sarf opening with Fakhar with Haris slotting in 4 for Hafeez and Fahim taking Sarf's #6 position for slogging/finishing.

No proper batsman after Sarfaraz.

 

[Prince of Pakistan]

thats what i am so confused about
after playing so well against Bangladesh even though it was a warm up match he did not get a game against India and even today against S.africa.

one of the hafeez or Azhar need to be dropped for him

Do not get why someone with the reputation of Mickey is so late on making those hard decisions and dropping seniors.

 

[Citizen4]

This is unlikely to happen considering the love for Azhar that management have. I'd have Fahim over Azhar or even Hafeez.

 

[WC-Passion]

Bring in Haris, Fahim will get destroyed by England if we make the SF's. Drop Azhar and make Hafeez open. Our best possible lineup then.

 

[On_the_up]

Ain't happening now, after today's result.

Same XI for next match unless there are injuries.

 

[Chief Destroyer]

The ideal move for the rest of the tournament would to be drop Hafeez and Azhar. Move Sarfaraz to open, slot Haris at 4 and bring Fahim in.

 

[PakLFC]

Or drop Hafeeez put Azhar in the middle order where he is more comfortable. Open with Shehzad and Fakhar.

 

[Muhammad10]

Fakhar
Babar
Haris
Sarfraz
Shoaib
Imad
Faheem
Shadab
Amir
Hasan
Junaid

I believe this is the optimum XI given the resources available.

 

[ads101]

The ideal move for the rest of the tournament would to be drop Hafeez and Azhar. Move Sarfaraz to open, slot Haris at 4 and bring Fahim in.

I would do this too. No point continuing with Azhar, he hasn't got the ability to do it in LOI (even in domestic). Hafeez is over the hill/mediocre. Both aren't the future, little point persisting with them. Yes Imad and Fahim looks a bit weak at 6 and 7, but if the other batsmen e.g. shehzad, azhar, hafeez aren't performing not a huge loss.

The biggest change it would do is putting the performing batsmen at the front (e.g. Sarfraz would be promoted). Allows our better batsmen more chance to dictate the game without getting slowed down/bogged down by the non performing slower batsmen in our side.

The fact Haris hasn't come in staggers me. What was the point of taking him to England. Pretty sure umar akmal was going to start too if he passed the fitness test. You wouldn't even need to cut both azhar and Hafeez, just one of them to accomodate him. Though I'd cut both as i said before.

 

[muqarrab]

Drop azhar ali? and keep hafeez for what? If i need one player to build innings around and let other players anchor on it would be azhar.

 

[Savak]

Drop azhar ali? and keep hafeez for what? If i need one player to build innings around and let other players anchor on it would be azhar.

Anchor has the ability to accelerate at the end and keep the strike ticking over. Azhar Ali does not have the quality.

 

[Pete Rose]

Drop Hafeez

 

[nextover666666]

is their a possiblilty for the next game Pak would play Rumman Raees

 

[Square Drive]

Agree word for word. Have been advocating for that XI for time now.

The ideal move for the rest of the tournament would to be drop Hafeez and Azhar. Move Sarfaraz to open, slot Haris at 4 and bring Fahim in.

Even better, but impossible.

I'd love for this to happen though.

 

[Square Drive]

is their a possiblilty for the next game Pak would play Rumman Raees

Why? Who messed up today?

 

[shady]

Faheem for Hafeez and move Sarfaraz to 4. Well have a 4th seamer if needed and Malik can take over Hafeez's spin overs if needed. Shadab and Imad are good enough for 10 overs each. Also makes our batting more explosive and really deep, hopefully giving the guys up top more confidence to play freely.

Azhar is a placeholder for this tournament, I'm indifferent as to whether he or Ahmed plays, one doesn't have the capability to be a ODI player and the other doesn't have the courage needed. Fakhar needed only one game to establish himself as a clearly superior option to these two.

Overall though, the framework is there for a competitive ODI unit. We just need a couple younger players to be given opportunities and grab their chances like Fakhar did today.

 

[PakSarZameen]

That makes the tail too long. Azhar needs to go but for Haris.

Fahim could be played for Shadab or Imad as we are playing in Cardiff next and the pitch will be much more suited to pacers.

 

[lolpakistan]

Why are people still so adamant on sticking with Hafeez. I think he's the sole reason why the team suddenly finds itself in heaps of pressure. Yes Azhar might be on a similiar track but to be fair, I've seem glimpses of intent more often from him than hafeez.

I'd drop Hafeez, bring in Haris and stay with the current opening pair. Atleast until we have a better replacement for Azhar than Mr. TukTukTukSixWOWHAFEEZISTHEBESTout.

 

[lolpakistan]

Also is it just me or did not anybody else see Hafeez facing Pandya to be what it really was : complete inability to knock the ball anywhere.

 

[JibranAnsari]

According to arthur we have found a brilliant number 4 , why change his position.

After CT i feel pakistan need to take a chance with sahibzada farhan , yah i know he hasnt played much but we can ease him into international cricket against sri lanka in UAE.

 

[TalentSpotterPk]

I would give Azhar Ali another match. Hopefully he will inshaAllah click against SL. Hafeez is top vulnerable against new ball and this is one reason Azhar was selected.

If Azhar doesn't perform vs SL or Hafeez has a bad game with both bat and ball than I will play Fahim Ashraf against NZ in Semifinal as He will be crucial in the penultimate over with the ball or with his batting as a finisher in that Nail Bitter vs NZ which will go till the End.


For now winning combination should persist. If Hafeez did not bowl well today than I would have liked Haris to replace him because He & Babar Azam both are choking the middle overs with Tukathon which is not on.


It's great that we have Haris & Fahim on bench.

 

[Abdullah719]

Great effort today to beat South Africa but the batting issues still remain though bowling and fielding was much improved. I reckon the management won't want to change the combination but surely it's worth at least removing one of Azhar and Hafeez from the top 4? Though the opponent is Sri Lanka....

 

[KyoOne]

I would give Azhar Ali another match. Hopefully he will inshaAllah click against SL. Hafeez is top vulnerable against new ball and this is one reason Azhar was selected.

If Azhar doesn't perform vs SL or Hafeez has a bad game with both bat and ball than I will play Fahim Ashraf against NZ in Semifinal as He will be crucial in the penultimate over with the ball or with his batting as a finisher in that Nail Bitter vs NZ which will go till the End.


For now winning combination should persist. If Hafeez did not bowl well today than I would have liked Haris to replace him because He & Babar Azam both are choking the middle overs with Tukathon which is not on.


It's great that we have Haris & Fahim on bench.

If we qualify, we'd most likely play England, not Kiwis

 

[161]

Haris should be brought in not Faheem.

Also I'd drop Hafeez ... he cant bat in English conditions ... just a FTB.

 

[nextover666666]

Why? Who messed up today?

no one lol, i was not impling that, i was asking would team managemnet decide to go with him ( out of the box strategy lol ).

 

[Rayyman]

If they are to make a change, then they should bring in Fahim Ashraf for Shadab Khan.

Amir vs Dickwella should be interesting.

 

[GoUgandaCranes]

Fakhar
Babar
Haris
Sarfraz
Shoaib
Imad
Faheem
Shadab
Amir
Hasan
Junaid

I believe this is the optimum XI given the resources available.

pretty much this. a bit risky putting babar up top but you've to take a chance.

i'd also be tempted to get raees in for junaid.

 

[Muhammad10]

pretty much this. a bit risky putting babar up top but you've to take a chance.

i'd also be tempted to get raees in for junaid.

Opening, especially in ODIs should not be much of an issue for Babar, who has experience opening in domestic cricket.

Junaid bowled better than I expected, so I feel he's earned himself a game against Sri Lanka.

 

[Syed1]

Watch how Hafeez feasts on the Lankan bowlers.


Best would be to drop Azhar Ali, move Prof to open and put Harry in the middle order. That would be best possible side from the squad and also pretty close to Pakistan's best possible side amongst the present available talent.

Fakhar
Hafeez (just keeping the seat warm for Sharjeel)
Babar
Haris
Malik
Sarfaraz (would really like Malik and Sarfaraz being fluid in their positions and switching when required)
Imad (keeping the seat warm for a better player, don't be swayed by today's performance)
Shadab
Hasan (best pacer)
Amir
Junaid (replaceable, done enough to earn automatic selection for a series or two atleast)

 

[GoUgandaCranes]

Opening, especially in ODIs should not be much of an issue for Babar, who has experience opening in domestic cricket.

Junaid bowled better than I expected, so I feel he's earned himself a game against Sri Lanka.

agreed. he is a solid accumulator and should do that. that is one reason why i miss sharjeel so much. him and babar would have made a good opening pair. it also gives a chance to slot haris in, adds another left handed batsman in the mix.

makes the whole team very dynamic.

 

[TalentSpotterPk]

If we qualify, we'd most likely play England, not Kiwis

Thanks Bro.

 

[hussain.r97]

Azhar needs to go. Both him and Hafeez have been pathetic with the bat, but Hafeez actually brings his bowling to the table. I would make Hafeez open and slot Haris in at 4.

Hafeez
Fakhar
Babar
Haris
Malik
Sarfraz+*
Imad
Shadab
Amir
Hasan
Junaid

 

[Boi]

Bat Hafeez at 7/8 if he is to play just cos of his bowling. The guy is a liability at the top or middle order. Get Haris in for Azhar and make Sarfraz open.

 

[Langau]

If they are to make a change, then they should bring in Fahim Ashraf for Shadab Khan.

Amir vs Dickwella should be interesting.

Thankfully he has wella in his name (dickwella)

 

[ahmedwaqas92]

Fakhar
Babar
Haris
Sarfraz
Shoaib
Imad
Faheem
Shadab
Amir
Hasan
Junaid

I believe this is the optimum XI given the resources available.

Batting is too thin for my liking, remember After Shabby all will be untested in crunch game situations while they aren't even proper batsmen to begin with.... Need an additional batter in that lineup just to be on the safe side.

 

[ahmedwaqas92]

Watch how Hafeez feasts on the Lankan bowlers.


Best would be to drop Azhar Ali, move Prof to open and put Harry in the middle order. That would be best possible side from the squad and also pretty close to Pakistan's best possible side amongst the present available talent.

Fakhar
Hafeez (just keeping the seat warm for Sharjeel)
Babar
Haris
Malik
Sarfaraz (would really like Malik and Sarfaraz being fluid in their positions and switching when required)
Imad (keeping the seat warm for a better player, don't be swayed by today's performance)
Shadab
Hasan (best pacer)
Amir
Junaid (replaceable, done enough to earn automatic selection for a series or two atleast)

This is the lineup I'd most probably go with, gives us ample options in both Batting and Bowling. However, depending on the conditions I'd make it a toss up between Shady and Fahim. I know people adore Shady on this forum but is bowling isn't some earth shattering prospect tbh.....

Still needs a lot of work on his stock delivery and how to set up batsmen.... With that being said he is a gun a fielder I've ever seen come out of Pakistan. Truly World Class...

 

[Muhammad10]

Batting is too thin for my liking, remember After Shabby all will be untested in crunch game situations while they aren't even proper batsmen to begin with.... Need an additional batter in that lineup just to be on the safe side.

I feel there is sufficient quality in the top 6, and the all-rounders in Faheem and Shadab can play decent knocks, while Amir and Hasan are also capable of useful contributions with the bat. Our team needs to move on from this "being on the safe side" mentality and man up for a change.

 

[pakistan zindabad lfc]

Azhar Ali, Haris Sohail or Faheem Ashraf

So after the first two games of the tournament out of the way, who do you think is the best choice for the game against Sri Lanka and hopefully for the semis?
It looks like hafeez is here to stay in the starting XI even after his two dismal innings and zaman has finally taken shehzads spot.
No matter what combination we will still struggle to hide our weaknesses in the batting department but what combination would you like to see?

Team with azhar Ali;
Azhar Ali
Zaman
Babar
Hafeez
Malik
Sarfraz
Imad
Shadab
Amir
Hassan
Junaid

Team with Haris Sohail;
Hafeez
Zaman
Babar
Haris Sohail
Malik
Sarfraz
Imad
Shadab
Amir
Hassan
Junaid

Team with faheem ashraf;
Hafeez (or even faheem himself but doubt the team want to be that aggressive)
Zaman
Babar
Malik
Sarfraz
Shadab
Faheem (if he opens then hafeez back at 4 and everyone else down a spot)
Imad
Amir
Hassan
Junaid

 

[Lynx]

Fakhar
Babar
Haris
Sarfraz
Shoaib
Imad
Faheem
Shadab
Amir
Hasan
Junaid

I believe this is the optimum XI given the resources available.

THIS. THIS. THIS. Best possible combination where every batsman is batting at his ideal position. Babar can easily open and as can Harris. I feel Babar has been too slow in this CT so far where you need to build some momentum as a number 3 batsman. Harris, I feel, rotates the strike better than Babar (who used to, seriously don't know what's happened to him).

Imad is good enough to play at 6. His ideal position in my opinion. He's done relatively decent with the bat and I feel people are too harsh on him.

 

[arehaan]

I dont think we will see any change for next game simple. Having said that ideally we should go with the following line up.

1. Fakhar
2. Hafeez ( Let this guy play as opener cause we need his off spinners)
3. Babar
4. Malik
5. Sarfraz
6. Harris S.
7. Imad W.
8. Shadab K
9. Amir
10. Hassan
11. Junaid

This gives us a far more potent middle order and stability.

 

[Square Drive]

no one lol, i was not impling that, i was asking would team managemnet decide to go with him ( out of the box strategy lol ).

Nah, not happening.

 

[Azlan Khan]

Same team please. Our combination was perfect.

Persist with Azhar Ali, no need to make any change. Maybe, Swap Azhar with Hafeez in the batting order, but that's about it.

Azhar Ali
Fakhar Zaman
Babar Azam
Mohammad Hafeez
Shoaib Malik
Sarfaraz Ahmed
Imad Wasim
Shadab Khan
Muhammad Amir
Hasan Ali
Junaid Khan

 

[Arsalan Pro]

Even though we will play the same team, I would want it to be:

Fakhar Zaman
Mohammed Hafeez
Babar Azam
Haris Sohail
Sarfraz Ahmed
Shoaib Malik
Imad Wasim
Shadab Khan
Mohammed Amir
Hasan Ali
Junaid Khan

 

[Abdul]

CT 2017: Injured Kusal Perera to be replaced

Sri Lanka will fly out allrounder Dhananjaya de Silva as a replacement for injured Kusal Perera for the remainder of the ICC Champions Trophy 2017 currently taking place in England.

"After a brilliant knock of 47 off 44 balls that included five boundaries, a flare up of a hamstring injury has seen Kusal Janith Perera retired hurt from the Champions Trophy 2017," an SLC statement said.

Perera, whose partnership of 26 with Kusal Mendis and 75 with skipper Mathews on Thursday (8) anchored the Sri Lankan innings after the loss of Dhanushka Gunathilaka, was helped off the field in the 42nd over, and preliminary medical investigations have revealed a possible lateral mid-hamstring injury.

Perera will undergo radiographic testing on Friday (9) to ascertain the extent of his injury.

"Sri Lanka who had two standbys on tour training with the team in England, substituted Danushka Gunathilaka in after the untimely injury of Chamara Kapugedara on Wednesday (7) and will fly in 25 year old all-rounder Dhanajaya de Silva to join spinner Dilruwan Perera as the third standby," the statement added.

http://www.sundaytimes.lk/article/1023426/ct-2017-injured-kusal-perera-to-be-replaced

 

[Abdul]

We shouldn't get too complacent after winning the last game!

 

[SARJ_BD]

1. Fakhar Zaman
2. M Hafeez (Azhar is a walking wicket anyway. Hafeez is a great bowler vs lefties)
3. Babar Azam
4. Shoaib Malik (he will improve runrate at number 4)
5. Haris Sohail (not sure if he can bat at 6 to promote Sarfraz. No chance of batting at 4 due to Malik's form and experience)
6. Sarfraz Ahmed
7. Imad Wasim
8. Shadab Khan (50/50 between him and Fahim. SL smashed Indian pacers thus will go with Shadab. Plus changing 2 players from a winning squad is stupidity)
9. Mohammed Amir
10. Hasan Ali
11. Junaid Khan

 

[Ultimate]

Drop Amir for Fahim, and Hafeez for Haris. I will give Shahzad another go in place of Azhar.

 

[Ultimate]

Sarfraz should open. He is useless in the lower order.

 

[Rayyman]

Drop Amir for Fahim, and Hafeez for Haris. I will give Shahzad another go in place of Azhar.

Sarfraz should open. He is useless in the lower order.

Pakistan will lose the game if they make these ridiculous decisions.

 

[Belawal2014]

1. Babar Azam
2. Fakhar Zaman
3. Haris Sohail
4. Sarfaraz Ahmad (c + wk)
5. Shoaib Malik
6. Mohammad Hafeez
7. Imad Wasim
8. Shadab Khan
9. Mohammad Amir
10. Hasan Ali
11. Junaid Khan

 

[Rafay Shafiq]

According to arthur we have found a brilliant number 4 , why change his position.

After CT i feel pakistan need to take a chance with sahibzada farhan , yah i know he hasnt played much but we can ease him into international cricket against sri lanka in UAE.

But according to Arthur, Pakistan had settled opening pair but shahzad dropped after one match. Arthur and his comments...

 

[WhenSultansBowled]

Please drop Hafeez if you wanna have a chance.

But knowing PCB, they are capable of playing with Ahmed Shehzad

 

[Ultimate]

Pakistan will lose the game if they make these ridiculous decisions.

No, we won't lose. To hell with so called economical/defensive bowlers. This is ODI cricket, and I prefer attackers.

 

[kingusama92]

Please drop Hafeez if you wanna have a chance.

But knowing PCB, they are capable of playing with Ahmed Shehzad

Hard to drop Hafeez since SL is lining up three lefties in their top four (Dickwella, Gunathilaka, and Perera).

 

[Magyar]

Perera is out !

 

[Brilliance]

Fakhar.
Hafeez.
Babar.
Sarfaraz.
Malik.
Imad.
Fahim.
Shadab.
Amir.
Hassan.
Junaid.

 

[big_gamer007]

Most likely you guys would play the same team as the one that beat SA..

I don't understand why you guys have selected Hafeez and Azhar in squad if you had 2 other players than these two you would have had a strong chance of winning this tournament..

 

[IMMY69]

I'd go with Savak's lineup.

Azhar Ali offers nothing in ODI's unless the wicket is a green samba but even then I probably wouldn't pick him and if it is green then I'd pick Haris over Azhar Ali.

Hafeez is required for his bowling, particular to the left handers. Still can't fathom why he didn't bowl to Dhawan.

Fahim offers right arm seam bowling variety and can smack the ball.

All in all this would be an attacking team. Haris is unlucky to miss out.

 

[imshally81]

Drop Amir for Fahim, and Hafeez for Haris. I will give Shahzad another go in place of Azhar.

Oh No...

 

[imshally81]

How's weather in Cardiff?

 

[Azlan Khan]

Drop Amir for Fahim, and Hafeez for Haris. I will give Shahzad another go in place of Azhar.

)

Are you trying to send Pakistan out of the tournament?

 

[Azlan Khan]

How's weather in Cardiff?

Should be clear throughout the day..

 

[ToeCrusher2]

Should be an easy win for lanka

 

[Hamza_]

Should be an easy win for lanka

Not as easy as last one at least.

 

[ToeCrusher2]

Not as easy as last one at least.

Could be easier

 

[Barragan]

Drop Azhar and Shadab for Haris and Fahim.

Azam opens, Haris at 3, swap both Sarfaraz and Hafeez around.

 

[MenInG]

https://www.icc-cricket.com/media-zone/news/418457

The ICC has confirmed that the Event Technical Committee of the ICC Champions Trophy 2017 has approved Dhananjaya de Silva as a replacement player for Kusal Perera in the Sri Lanka squad for the tournament.

Perera suffered a hamstring injury in Sri Lanka’s seven-wicket victory over defending champions India at The Oval on Thursday, 8 June. He is the second Sri Lanka player after Chamara Kapugedera and fourth overall after Chris Woakes of England and Pakistan’s Wahab Riaz to withdraw from the tournament.

De Silva, a 25-year-old right-handed top-order batsman and an off-spinner, has represented Sri Lanka in 16 ODIs in which he has scored 334 runs and taken four wickets. His last ODI was against South Africa at Centurion earlier this year.

The replacement of a player requires the approval of the Event Technical Committee before the replacement player can be officially added to the squad.

The Event Technical Committee of the ICC Champions Trophy 2017 consists of Geoff Allardice (ICC, chairman), Campbell Jamieson (ICC representative), Steve Elworthy (Tournament Director), Alan Fordham (host representative), Sourav Ganguly and Michael Slater (both independent nominees).

Sri Lanka will play Pakistan at the Cardiff Wales Stadium on Monday, 12 June, in what is a quarter-final for both the sides.

 

[MenInG]

https://www.icc-cricket.com/media-zone/news/418457

The ICC has confirmed that the Event Technical Committee of the ICC Champions Trophy 2017 has approved Dhananjaya de Silva as a replacement player for Kusal Perera in the Sri Lanka squad for the tournament.

Perera suffered a hamstring injury in Sri Lanka’s seven-wicket victory over defending champions India at The Oval on Thursday, 8 June. He is the second Sri Lanka player after Chamara Kapugedera and fourth overall after Chris Woakes of England and Pakistan’s Wahab Riaz to withdraw from the tournament.

De Silva, a 25-year-old right-handed top-order batsman and an off-spinner, has represented Sri Lanka in 16 ODIs in which he has scored 334 runs and taken four wickets. His last ODI was against South Africa at Centurion earlier this year.

The replacement of a player requires the approval of the Event Technical Committee before the replacement player can be officially added to the squad.

The Event Technical Committee of the ICC Champions Trophy 2017 consists of Geoff Allardice (ICC, chairman), Campbell Jamieson (ICC representative), Steve Elworthy (Tournament Director), Alan Fordham (host representative), Sourav Ganguly and Michael Slater (both independent nominees).

Sri Lanka will play Pakistan at the Cardiff Wales Stadium on Monday, 12 June, in what is a quarter-final for both the sides.

Bad news for SL but good for Pakistan.

 

[Syed1]

Drop Azhar and Shadab for Haris and Fahim.

Azam opens, Haris at 3, swap both Sarfaraz and Hafeez around.

Shadab is an attacking option, while Fahim's bowling is club level. Also Lanka are weak against leg-spin. They might find Imad easy pickings (like Jadeja) and having Shady there would be a good option.