Pakistan, Sri Lanka look to find the right mix as World Cup countdown begins

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Sri Lanka's men begin this match having won an international in the past week. This is more significant than it sounds. Their 2026 has been abysmal, with the team losing 22 matches to the 10 they have won. New captain Kusal Mendis had carried his team to that victory with his 87 not out off 48 balls, after Sri Lanka's seamers had also had an encouraging outing.

But the game was only a dead rubber, Pakistan having sewn up the T20I series already. Pakistan have hardly been lighting up 2026 either, but they have had substantially more success than Sri Lanka. They had won their most recent ODI series, against Australia, 2-1. In that series, Pakistan may even have discovered a bright young all-round talent, left-arm spinner and lower-order batter Arafat Minhas, who claimed the Player of the Series award for his seven wickets at an average of 12.28. He has been in penetrative form in the past 10 days as well, having claimed five wickets across the three T20Is against Sri Lanka. Against Australia, Pakistan had also had excellent performances from Shaheen Afridi and legspinner Abrar Ahmed. It had, in fact, been Pakistan's bowlers who dominated in a low-scoring series.

The tri-series is important for all three sides because there is now officially less than 12 months before the World Cup, which is set to begin on October 2 next year. Sri Lanka still have plenty to figure out - their white-ball squads having been in serious flux this year, as a new set of selectors searches (often fruitlessly) for a winning combination. Pakistan have players and strategies to trial as well.

Form guide

Pakistan: WLWLW(Last five completed matches, most-recent first)
Sri Lanka: LWLWL

In the spotlight: Babar Azam and Lahiru Udara

In the series against Australia, Babar Azam had top-scored for Pakistan, hitting 40, 16, and 69 to average 41.66 across the matches. No one will call it a return to his heyday, but it was an encouraging sign following a modest run in 2025, in which he averaged 34 across 17 innings. Sri Lanka has been one of his favoured opponents over the years, Babar having struck four of his 20 centuries against them, averaging 58.33. The tracks in Rawalpindi at least are expected to be good for batting. Can he build up some form in the one format he now plays?

Lahiru Udara has reason to feel miffed at the selectors, many think. Having hit 188 against West Indies three Tests ago, he was left out of the squad entirely for the forthcoming Test series. But with Pathum Nissanka having been ruled out of the ODIs through an ongoing hamstring problem, Udara has surged into ODI contention on the back of a good T20I innings last week. At age 32, he knows his chances at this level are numbered. With the World Cup on the horizon, there is perhaps no better format to impress in right now than ODIs.

Team news

With neither Sahibzada Farhan nor Maaz Sadaqat in the ODI squad, Saim Ayub and Fakhar Zaman may open.

Pakistan (possible): 1 Saim Ayub, 2 Fakhar Zaman, 3 Hasan Nawaz, 4 Babar Azam, 5 Salman Ali Agha, 6 Shadab Khan, 7 Ghazi Ghouri (wk), 8 Minhas Arafat, 9 Shaheen Afridi (capt.), 10 Haris Rauf, 11 Naseem Shah

Sri Lanka may bring Avishka Fernando straight into the XI, with Kamil Mishara having had a run of modest scores. Sri Lanka also have some decisions to make on the spin-bowling front, although they are likely to favour Maheesh Theekshana over legspinner Sachindu Colombage.

Sri Lanka (possible): 1 Lahiru Udara, 2 Avishka Fernando, 3 Kusal Mendis (capt, wk), 4 Kamindu Mendis, 5 Sahan Arachchige/Pavan Rathnayake, 6 Janith Liyanage, 7 Dasun Shanaka, Dunith Wellalage, 8 Dushmantha Chameera, 9 Eshan Malinga, 10 Maheesh Theekshana, 11 Asitha Fernando

Pitch and conditions

Rawalpindi surfaces have tended to be batting-friendly, and with short boundaries on offer as well, batters are expected to prosper. The weather is forecast to be fine, with temperatures in the mid-to-low 20s range.

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