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Pakistan (299/5) secure a narrow 6-run victory over Sri Lanka (293/9) in the series opener

Which team will win the first ODI between these two sides?

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The Bald Eagle

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Fresh from their 2-1 ODI series win against South Africa, Pakistan now turn their focus to Sri Lanka as the two sides meet in the first ODI at Rawalpindi on November 11, 2025. The hosts will look to carry forward their winning momentum, while Sri Lanka, coming off a strong run of four wins in their last five matches, aim to start their Pakistan tour on a high.

Pakistan Squad:
Shaheen Shah Afridi (c), Abrar Ahmed, Salman Agha, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Faisal Akram, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Nawaz, Haseebullah Khan (†), Hussain Talat, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan (†), Mohammad Wasim, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub

Sri Lanka Squad:
Charith Asalanka (c), Dushmantha Chameera, Asitha Fernando, Wanindu Hasaranga, Lahiru Udara (†), Janith Liyanage, Eshan Malinga, Kusal Mendis (†), Kamindu Mendis, Kamil Mishara, Pathum Nissanka, Pramod Madushan, Pavan Rathnayake, Sadeera Samarawickrama (†), Maheesh Theekshana, Jeffrey Vandersay

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Rawal pindi 300 plus wicket i suppose. Last 5 matches won by chasing teams.

Since 2022 Pakistan has successfully chased 300 plus totals 6 times

Performance of pak players in successful 300 plus chases since 2022


Fakhar 67(50), 11(20), 180(144), 30(34), 41(28)

Imam 106(97), 65(71), 24(26), 91(105), 12(12)

Babar 114(83), 103(107), 65(66), 53(66),10(15), 23 (19)

Rizwan 23(26), 59(61), 54(41), 2(7), 131(121), 122(128)

Agha 14(15), 134(103)
 
I wanted to post this on the pre-match discussion but ran out of time, so I will post this here:

This Sri Lanka team has some good players, specially on paper but they are one of the many subcontinent teams that play spin proficiently well. They are able to control & manage Abrar but attack the other spinners like Nawaz, Ayub & Salman. Whereas Hasaranga & Theekshana can easily manipulate Pakistan batters into becoming rookies on their first day at the job.

Its Shaheen's second series as captain as well & the squad is pretty plain to be honest. Playing Haris in Asian conditions as proven to be expensive as he struggles to hit the right lengths & lack of consistency. Faheem & Mohammad Nawaz has proven to be extremely profitable for Mike Hesson but should be allowed more responsibility bat one spot higher. Mike's obession however of turning Talat into a Neesham of sorts could come back to bite him which implies he should be dropped & replaced.

I would like to see Rizwan dropped, he slows down the momentum incredibly so, I know he wishes to maintain control & keep wickets in hand but applies intense pressure on his fellow batter on the other end. Hasan Nawaz is also now dropped which is upsetting despite his limited experience in 50 over cricket. The major concern however for Pakistan is Fakhar. He is not getting younger & his inconsistency has become more & more evident. It could be a smart move to bring in Sahibzada into the squad as a tester to see how he could do, specifically more so when there aren't any other openers in the squad & Haseebullah is not one. Ideally they should have selected in the squad & line-up:

1. Sahibzada Farhan
2. Saim Ayub
3. Kamran Ghulam/Saud Shakeel
4. Agha Ali Salman
5. Mohammad Haris (WK)
6. Mohammad Nawaz
7. Faheem Ashraf
8. Mohammad Wasim Jnr/Abbas Afridi
9. Shaheen Shah Afridi (C)
10. Salman Mirza
11. Abrar Ahmed

However with the squad that has been picked, the best line-up they can pick is:
1. Fakhar Zaman
2. Saim Ayub
3. Babar Azam
4. Mohammad Rizwan (WK)
5. Agha Ali Salman
6. Mohammad Nawaz
7. Faheem Ashraf
8. Mohammad Wasim Jnr
9. Naseem Shah
10. Shaheen Shah Afridi (C)
11. Abrar Ahmed

You cannot play Talat, anywhere below 4, because he doesn't have the acceleration to make up for the middle & latter overs & with the form that Nawaz & Faheem are in, you should give them the responsibility with the bat to strike while the iron is hot with there form.
 
jnaveen1980 said:
Rawal pindi 300 plus wicket i suppose. Last 5 matches won by chasing teams.

Since 2022 Pakistan has successfully chased 300 plus totals 6 times

Performance of pak players in successful 300 plus chases since 2022


Fakhar 67(50), 11(20), 180(144), 30(34), 41(28)

Imam 106(97), 65(71), 24(26), 91(105), 12(12)

Babar 114(83), 103(107), 65(66), 53(66),10(15), 23 (19)

Rizwan 23(26), 59(61), 54(41), 2(7), 131(121), 122(128)

Agha 14(15), 134(103)
Click to expand...
If Pindi produces one of the flatter wickets it's known to produce, you will have to make 350 to be safe if you bat first.
 
You cannot outfox SL brothers with spin or slow pace therefore Naseem has to play instead of bits and pieces Faheem.

From the existing squad my XI would be:

1. Saim Ayub
2. Fakhar Zaman
3. Babar Azam
4. M Rizwan
5. Salman Ali Agha
6. Hussain Talat (reluctantly selected)
7. M Nawaz
8. Shaheen Afridi
9. Naseem Shah
10. Abrar Ahmed
11. Haris Rauf
 
gazza619 said:
You cannot outfox SL brothers with spin or slow pace therefore Naseem has to play instead of bits and pieces Faheem.

From the existing squad my XI would be:

1. Saim Ayub
2. Fakhar Zaman
3. Babar Azam
4. M Rizwan
5. Salman Ali Agha
6. Hussain Talat (reluctantly selected)
7. M Nawaz
8. Shaheen Afridi
9. Naseem Shah
10. Abrar Ahmed
11. Haris Rauf
Click to expand...
For the first ODI, this is how I would start:

1. Hasan Nawaz
2. Fakhar Zaman
3. Saim Ayub
4. Babar Azam
5. M Nawaz
6. Salman Ali Agha
7. Mohammad Rizwan
8. Shaheen Afridi
9. Haris Rauf
10. Naseem Shah
11. Abrar Ahmed
 
Little bit of experiment for 1st game, team should be

Fakhar
Saim
Babar
Haseebullah +
Agha
Nawaz
Faheem
SSA
Naseem
WasimJr.
Abrar
===========
But knowing how seniority culture is sacred in Pakistan cricket, Riz & Rauf will play
 
Every team uses bilateral ODI's to learn and develop a core group of players.

No team cares about the results.

However, Pakistan team uses these ODI's to satisfy the appetite of Babar and Rizwan and their fans and pretend that everything is good.

I literally don't understand what's the point of Babar and Rizwan playing a SA C team.

Maybe Sri Lanka makes some sense but let's see what happens.
 
gazza619 said:
It seems like you are not aware that Hasan Nawaz has been dropped. @Rana & Co have been doing matam blaming it on RizBar, lol.
Click to expand...
Hassan Nawaz is a good player and a genuine six hitter. He shouldn't have been dropped. If Rana likes him, it is the first time he is liking someone with actual talent.
 
heddie19 said:
Hassan Nawaz is a good player and a genuine six hitter. He shouldn't have been dropped. If Rana likes him, it is the first time he is liking someone with actual talent.
Click to expand...

How can you keep someone like him when the plan is to have players like Rizwan and Babar and watching paint dry.
 
heddie19 said:
Hassan Nawaz is a good player and a genuine six hitter. He shouldn't have been dropped. If Rana likes him, it is the first time he is liking someone with actual talent.
Click to expand...
It looks like he’s actually been released from the squad.

Probably should be a thread on this. From what I’m reading, it seems Hesson doesn’t want him in the squad and wants him to play domestic. That doesn’t seem good for a player when the coach wants you released.

This is extremely disappointing. We finally get a good middle order talent and he’s discarded like this.
 
ads101 said:
It looks like he’s actually been released from the squad.

Probably should be a thread on this. From what I’m reading, it seems Hesson doesn’t want him in the squad and wants him to play domestic. That doesn’t seem good for a player when the coach wants you released.

This is extremely disappointing. We finally get a good middle order talent and he’s discarded like this.
Click to expand...
Not necessarily. He wants him to go play first class (from what I heard) which is probably because he wants him to work on his temperament. It's one thing to be released from the squad and shelved, and another thing to be sent for development which shows that you are still in the plans.

It might be good for him to go and work on his confidence a bit. He has the talent it seems, just looks all over the place with his rhythm.

On the other hand, you have someone who has his own level of rhythm in Hussain Talat but he just does not have the talent and skills and simply does not deserve to be in the squad.
 
SriLanka has a good batting lineup, pace bowling is their weak link.

Nissanka, Kamindu and Kusal Mendis are as good as any Pakistani batsman.
 
Sri Lanka playing good ODI cricket in last 1 year, beating India & Australia at home. Although the victories have come on square turners, SL will have confidence after missing out on Champions Trophy earlier this year.

Pakistan will roll out flat decks to negate the Lankan spinners, watchout for Nissanka & Mendis at the top. Nissanka off late has been a run machine, so is Asalanka.
 
I have one question why they dont build a sun shade at atleast one stadium where they are staging matches.
Its November i know but its still hot in a day time
 
I bet according to Pakistan fans/commentators today there is no dew expected in second half :ROFLMAO: :ROFLMAO: :ROFLMAO:
 
It's good that they are starting half an hour earlier than SA ODIs but they should have 1:30 pm starts if they really want to minimise the impact of dew.
 
BouncerGuy said:
1 Change only from the last game as Naseem comes in for Abrar Ahmed.
Click to expand...

Teams:

Sri Lanka (Playing XI): Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara, Kusal Mendis(w), Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka(c), Janith Liyanage, Kamindu Mendis, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dushmantha Chameera, Maheesh Theekshana, Asitha Fernando

Pakistan (Playing XI): Fakhar Zaman, Saim Ayub, Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan(w), Salman Agha, Hussain Talat, Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Afridi(c), Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah
 
Rawalpindi has the potential to be a good seaming wicket but unfortunately we just make flat highways to inflate stats of our batsman.
 
Poor choice by Sri Lanka. I'm not sure why you need a second spinner in Theekshana in these conditions. You need Eshan Malinga.
 
hafizexpress said:
Not necessarily. He wants him to go play first class (from what I heard) which is probably because he wants him to work on his temperament. It's one thing to be released from the squad and shelved, and another thing to be sent for development which shows that you are still in the plans.

It might be good for him to go and work on his confidence a bit. He has the talent it seems, just looks all over the place with his rhythm.

On the other hand, you have someone who has his own level of rhythm in Hussain Talat but he just does not have the talent and skills and simply does not deserve to be in the squad.
Click to expand...
I think it’s just a polite way of removing him from the squad. Most of the times if coaches want you they want you to be with the squad so they can train/help you. He was already part of the squad yet instructed to be released. That is weird especially for a young player.

There is plenty of time for domestic. Internationals are only a short part of the calendar. As well as removing a player who still has excellent odi career so far despite it being short and still some proven t20 performances. Does he have zero faith he’ll perform. This isn’t a player who hasn’t properly made the step up to internationals yet.

And as you said there’s not an obvious replacement for him. I can’t really understand what the harm is playing Hasan in these games. Especially the odi games where he might rediscover form.

The whole treatment of Hasan has been weird from demoting him, dropping him during Asia cup etc. You’re not seeing the full faith backing he’s giving to Saim, or even Haris before he just had little choice but to drop him.

This is a perfect series to groom a youngster alongside the seniors in the team. And yet we aren’t doing it.
 
Fakhar has to step up... We cannot be having two deadbeats at the top in case Babar also fails
 
If abrar was not here then Faisal should have played but as usual, over-hyped Naseem and run machines are automatic choices no matter what
 
Wow Rauf & Naseem are back again without performance and Wasim Jnr who got just one game against SA is warming the bench
 
There have been about atleast 8 hit me balls on the legside and all missee any other team wud be 20 odd runs already
 
What is Pakistan trying to do?

Why are they so so clueless when they have to bat first??
 
And fakhar...and even babar and rizwan ..all of them have lost tbeir tecniques as if they are scarer of the ball..everybody just plants their foot forward and thats it
 
Just look at first ball block by babar his right foot ia coming towards slip...i mean he made 2nd ball look like jimmy anderaon or somethin
 
One failure against a good ball from Asitha and some of the comments about Saim 🤣

Dude was literally the only batsman in that lineup who could take on the Saffer bowlers in the last series.
 
Nikhil_cric said:
One failure against a good ball from Asitha and some of the comments about Saim 🤣

Dude was literally the only batsman in that lineup who could take on the Saffer bowlers in the last series.
Click to expand...
Failure for saim is a bad omen for Pakistan when he performs Pakistan usually win otherwise struggle
 
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