Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to bowl first in the first ODI  in Rawalpindi. This will be Sri Lanka’s first bilateral series in Pakistan since 2019, with Pakistan holding an 18-12 win-loss record on home soil.

Charith Asalanka the possibility of dew later on was a driving factor in his decision to bowl first, while Shaheen Shah Afridi said he would also liked to have bowled first adding that he’s expecting a high-scoring game.

In team news, one change for the hosts from the side that won their last ODI against South Africa, with Abrar Ahmed missing out due to illness and Naseem Shah replacing him. Sri Lanka meanwhile have handed out an ODI debut to Kamil Mishara,   while Wanindu Hasaranga also comes in. Making way are Janith Liyanage and the injured Dilshan Madushanka.

As mentioned earlier, the pitch at Rawalpindi is expected to be high-scoring, with chasing sides coming out victorious in the past three games; a score in excess of 300 will likely be needed for the side batting first, particularly with dew expected under lights. The over head conditions are bright and warm.

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

Pakistan XI: Fakhar Zaman, Saim Ayu, Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Salman Agha, Hussain Talat, Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah

(Cricinfo)

Time was when a tour of Pakistan was something cricketers eagerly looked forward to — a chance to criss cross a country where the warmth of its people matched the spice of its biryani and masala chai. Those were days when cities like Multan, Gujranwala, Faisalabad, Sialkot and Karachi rolled out the red carpet for visiting sides. Not this time. For the three-week assignment, Sri Lanka will shuttle only between Lahore and Rawalpindi, missing out on the rest of that cricket-mad nation.

‎‎The first of the three ODIs bowls off today in Rawalpindi, barely half an hour’s drive from the capital, Islamabad. The city will also host Sri Lanka’s curtain-raiser in the tri-nation series involving Zimbabwe before the caravan moves to Lahore for the remaining fixtures.

‎‎The series is no dead rubber. Both teams have plenty riding on it. Sri Lanka sit pretty at number four in the ICC ODI rankings — a hard-earned position after series triumphs over India and Australia — but any slip-up could see them tumble to fifth, with Pakistan ready to leapfrog them.‎

‎Pakistan arrive in buoyant mood, having recently downed South Africa 2-1 in their backyard. Their trump card remains leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed, whose whirring wrist-spin tormented the Lankans during the recent Asia Cup in the UAE. Add to that a fiery pace attack led by skipper Shaheen Shah Afridi and the irrepressible Naseem Shah with the new ball, and the hosts have enough firepower to rattle even the best.

‎‎Pakistan’s ‘three-captain’ experiment continues, with Shaheen donning the ODI armband this time. On their day, his seamers can make the white ball talk and if early breakthroughs come, they’ll have the visitors on the back foot before drinks.

‎‎Sri Lanka, though, have found their sweet spot in the 50-over game. Pathum Nissanka’s counter-punching at the top of the order has given them the perfect launchpad, while his chemistry with Kusal Mendis has blossomed into the opening pair the island had long yearned for. Captain Charith Asalanka — cool under pressure and clever in the middle overs — has been the glue in the batting line-up, sitting a proud seventh in the global batting charts.

‎‎All eyes will also be on young Pavan Rathnayake, prolific in domestic cricket and itching to make his international debut. His inclusion adds fresh legs and youthful verve to a side already brimming with confidence.

‎‎In the bowling department, Sri Lanka have been dealt a late blow with left-arm quick Dilshan Madushanka pulling out due to a knee injury. Eshan Malinga has been drafted in as replacement.

‎‎Pakistan (from): Shaheen Shah Afridi (C), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Faisal Akram, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah, Hussain Talat, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub and Salman Ali Agha.

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