ISLAMABAD: Sri Lanka have opted to bat first against Pakistan as the two Asian giants locked horns today, Tuesday, in the second game of the World Cup for both sides at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad.
Pakistan and Sri Lanka have played seven matches against each other in ICC World Cups, with the former maintaining a stellar 7-0 record against the 1996 champions.
Pakistan headed into the match slightly more confident than Sri Lanka after winning their opening World Cup encounter against the Netherlands by 81 runs on Friday. Sri Lanka, on the other hand, lost their opening fixture against South Africa by 102 runs on Saturday.
“They have won important matches against us in the last one year in white-ball cricket, but that is in the past and it should not affect us,” Pakistani all-rounder Muhammad Nawaz told Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Digital. “We will go in with ‘new game, new day’ and positive mindset on Tuesday.”
Sri Lanka beat Pakistan, 1992 World Cup champions, in the final of the Asia Cup tournament in 2022. On Sept, 14, the island nation beat Babar Azam’s side in a last-ball thriller to qualify for the Asia Cup 2023 final, ending Pakistan’s hopes of lifting the trophy.
Nawaz said Pakistan were looking for a positive start to the tournament and wanted to carry the winning momentum as they faced tougher oppositions such as India, Australia and South Africa in the days to come.
“We are hopeful of carrying the momentum that we have gained by beating the Netherlands and finishing the Hyderabad leg with a win,” he said.
India’s batting-friendly pitches have seen bowlers clobbered for sixes and fours throughout the tournament.
Nawaz acknowledged bowlers would have to be disciplined but added that spinners may have the advantage as the tournament progresses.
“Most of the venues in India are more batting conducive, but the pitches will offer more turn as the tournament will progress,” he said, adding that Pakistan had tried to adjust to the conditions in India.
“I have gotten confidence from bowling in the last match and I want to build on it so I can deliver my best according to the team’s requirements,” he added.
Teams:
Pakistan (possible) 1 Abdullah Shafique 2 Imam-ul-Haq 3 Babar Azam (capt) 4 Mohammad Rizwan (wk) 5 Saud Shakeel 6 Iftikhar Ahmed 7 Shadab Khan 8 Mohammad Nawaz 9 Hasan Ali 10 Shaheen Shah Afridi 11 Haris Rauf
Sri Lanka (possible) 1 Pathum Nissanka 2 Kusal Perera 3 Kusal Mendis (wk) 4 Sadeera Samarawickrama 5 Charith Asalanka 6 Dhananjaya de Silva 7 Dasun Shanaka (capt) 8 Dunith Wellalage, 9 Maheesh Theekshana, 10 Matheesha Pathirana, 11 Dilshan Madushanka
