Pakistan–Sri Lanka ODI trophy unveiled ahead of series

ISLAMABAD: The trophy for the three-match ODI series between Pakistan and Sri Lanka was officially unveiled on Monday at the Pakistan Monument, where captains Shaheen Afridi and Charith Asalanka posed with the silverware ahead of the much-anticipated series.

Pakistan

Pakistan, led by Shaheen Afridi, will enter the series with strong momentum and an experienced squad. Star batter Babar Azam, who recently completed 15,000 international runs after scoring 27 in the final ODI against South Africa in Lahore, headlines the batting lineup. He achieved the milestone across 372 matches in all formats.

Mohammad Rizwan and Fakhar Zaman will anchor the top order, while Saim Ayub—impressive in the last ODI against South Africa—adds further depth. Pakistan’s bowling will be spearheaded by Shaheen himself, alongside Haris Rauf and Naseem Shah, with support from Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf and Abrar Ahmed. The hosts will look to strike early and seize advantage in the opening match.

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka, captained by Charith Asalanka, will aim to rediscover consistency in the 50-over format. Their batting responsibilities will rest on Kamil Mishara, Pawan Rathnayake, Pathum Nissanka, Sadeera Samarawickrama and Kusal Mendis, who will look to lay solid foundations at the top.

In the bowling department, Asitha Fernando, Dushmantha Chameera and Wanindu Hasaranga will be central to Sri Lanka’s plans as they prepare to test Pakistan’s in-form batting lineup.

Head-to-Head

Pakistan and Sri Lanka have faced each other 157 times in ODIs. Pakistan hold a clear advantage with 93 wins, while Sri Lanka have registered 59 victories. Four matches ended with no result and one ended in a tie.

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Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium Pitch Report

The Rawalpindi surface traditionally offers good pace and bounce, making it favourable for batting early on. The pitch tends to flatten out, rewarding shot-making, before slowing down later in the innings. Spinners become more effective in the second half, while fast bowlers will look to exploit initial movement. Captains winning the toss are likely to bowl first to take advantage of early conditions.