Pakistan to Face Sri Lanka in Three-Match T20I Series from Friday

RAWALPINDI: (Mudassar Iqbal) -Pakistan will take on Sri Lanka in the first of a three-match T20I series at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Friday, with Sahibzada Farhan set to lead the national side on home soil for the first time.

The first T20I will be played on October 9, while the second and third matches are scheduled for October 11 and 13 at the same venue. All three matches will begin at 6pm Pakistan Standard Time, with the toss scheduled for 5:30pm.

Pakistan enter the series after winning a silver medal in the men’s cricket event at the recently concluded Asian Games. The team held a three-hour training session at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Wednesday and will have another practice session on Thursday.

The 15-member Pakistan squad includes uncapped players Razaullah and Muhammad Imran Randhawa. Fast bowler Naseem Shah is also in line to return to T20I cricket after his last appearance against Sri Lanka in February.

Abrar Ahmed, ranked second in the ICC T20I bowling rankings, will lead Pakistan’s spin attack alongside Shadab Khan, Sufiyan Moqim and Arafat Minhas. Saim Ayub also provides an additional off-spin option.

Khawaja Mohammad Nafay is expected to take wicketkeeping duties, while the batting department has been strengthened by the return of experienced batter Fakhar Zaman. Maaz Sadaqat, Sahibzada Farhan, Hasan Nawaz and Abdul Samad will also be key figures in Pakistan’s batting line-up.

Pakistan and Sri Lanka have faced each other 30 times in T20I cricket, with Pakistan winning 18 matches and Sri Lanka securing 12 victories. In their eight bilateral T20I series, Pakistan have won four, while three series ended in draws. Sri Lanka’s only bilateral series victory came in 2019 when they defeated Pakistan 3-0 in Lahore.

Friday’s opening match will also mark the 250th international cricket fixture between Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

Pakistan captain Sahibzada Farhan said leading the national side in front of home fans was both a responsibility and an exciting challenge.

“We have got a good blend of youth and experience in the squad with all bases covered. It is going to be an exciting series against Sri Lanka and we hope to entertain the fans,” he said.

Sri Lanka captain Kusal Mendis said his team was looking to turn the results around and expected a high-intensity contest.

The series will be broadcast live on PTV Sports in Pakistan, while fans can also stream the matches through the PCB Live app, Tapmad and Tamasha. The PCB Live app will also provide coverage in the United Kingdom, North America, Caribbean, Europe and Africa.

The commentary team will feature former Pakistan captains Aamir Sohail, Salman Butt and Urooj Mumtaz Khan, along with former Pakistan international Bazid Khan and Sri Lankan commentator Roshan Abeysinghe.

Pakistan T20I squad: Sahibzada Farhan (captain), Abdul Samad, Abrar Ahmed, Arafat Minhas, Fakhar Zaman, Hasan Nawaz, Muhammad Imran Randhawa, Khawaja Nafay (wicketkeeper), Maaz Sadaqat, Naseem Shah, Razaullah, Saim Ayub, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Shadab Khan and Sufiyan Moqim.

Sri Lanka T20I squad: Kusal Mendis (captain), Kamil Mishara, Sineth Jayawardena, Lahiru Udara, Sahan Arachchige, Kamindu Mendis, Dasun Shanaka, Chamindu Wickramasinghe, Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth, Dushmantha Chameera, Binura Fernando, Nuwan Thushara and Eshan Malinga.