Pakistan will assume Sri Lanka in the first of three ODI matches. This article provides details of Sri Lanka’s Game 11 against Pakistan for the first match of the series.
Sri Lanka Plays XI vs Pakistan – 1st ODI, Sri Lanka Tour of Pakistan 2025
Opening: Pathum Nissanka, Lahiru Air
Sri Lanka’s first-choice team will take the field for the first time in international cricket since participating in the 2025 edition of the Asia Cup, when the former ODI World Cup winners take on Pakistan in the first ODI.
The Charith Asalanka-led team would like to get back into rhythm and start the three-match series with a win to have the upper hand going into the second match.
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The visitors have announced a strong team for this particular series, with all bases covered in the batting and bowling departments.
Lanka’s only concern ahead of the first ODI would be the opening combination, which the team has not been able to rectify in the last two years.
Lanka are expected to open the innings with the pair of Pathum Nissanka and wicket-keeper batting Lahiru Udara, who is yet to make his ODI debut.
The team is hoping that Nissanka and Udara will get a good start and also score points individually.
Middle-order batsmen and all-rounders: Kusal Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama (wk), Charith Asalanka (c), Kamindu Mendis, Janith Liyanage, Wanindu Hasaranaga
Unlike the instability at the top of the order, Lanka’s middle order looks stable and has come to the team’s rescue several times in the recent past.
That said, the middle order, which includes Kusal Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama and captain Charith Asalanka, will hope that the opening matches go well and provide them with a platform that they can take full advantage of.
If they succeed, it will increase Lanka’s chances of starting the tour of Pakistan with a victory.
Lanka would bank on their top five batters to put up a good outing and score the majority of the team’s runs, both by batting first and chasing down.
Bowlers: Maheesh Theekshana, Dushmantha Chameera, Asitha Fernando
Lanka is expected to go into the first ODI against Pakistan with a plethora of spinners as the conditions are expected to suit the spinners after Pakistan’s victory in the last match against South Africa.
This means that Sri Lanka’s bowling attack will feature four specialist bowlers with two spinners and as many fast bowlers at the helm, which has been Sri Lanka’s standard operating procedure in recent matches.
The visitors’ fast bowling department will be handled by Dushmantha Chameera and Asitha Fernando.
As for the team’s spin bowling arsenal for this particular match, it will include Maheesh Theekshana and Wanindu Hasaranga, with Janith Liyanage and Kamindu Mendis filling the role of fifth bowling option in the series opener.
