Tag: PAK vs SL

RAWALPINDI: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced new dates for the remaining two One-Day Internationals (ODIs) of the Sri Lanka tour.

This comes after Sri Lankan players sought an early exit from the Pakistan tour due to security concerns.

The second ODI, originally scheduled for Thursday, 13 November, will now be played on Friday, 14 November, while the final fixture is set for Sunday, 16 November.

The announcement came via PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi’s social media handle.

“Grateful to the Sri Lankan team for their decision to continue the Pakistan tour.
The spirit of sportsmanship and solidarity shines bright,” the post read.

“The ODI matches between Pakistan and Sri Lanka will be played on 14th and 16th November in Rawalpindi,” it added.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

Earlier, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) had instructed its players and support staff to continue the ongoing Pakistan tour, following several members of the touring squad’s expressed desire to return home due to safety concerns.

Following the development, SLC stated that it had prioritized players’ safety and discussed the matter with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

“SLC immediately engaged with the players and assured them that all such concerns are being duly addressed in close coordination with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the relevant authorities to ensure the safety and well-being of every member of the touring party,” the statement read.

“In this context, SLC has instructed all players, support staff, and team management to continue with the tour as scheduled,” it added.

The board further clarified that any player or support staff choosing to return home would be replaced immediately to ensure the series proceeded without disruption.

For the unversed, Sri Lanka is currently touring Pakistan for a three-match ODI series and a T20I tri-series.

Pakistan leads the ODI series 1-0, with the remaining two ODIs to be scheduled on 13 and 15 November at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.

The ODI series will be followed by a T20I tri-series featuring Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan.

Sri Lanka tour to Pakistan Updated Schedule

14 November – Second ODI at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi

16 November – Third ODI at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi

READ: SLC issues statement on Pakistan tour amid safety concerns

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has instructed its players and support staff to continue the ongoing Pakistan tour, following several members of the touring squad’s expressed desire to return home due to safety concerns.  

This comes after Sri Lankan players sought an early exit from the Pakistan tour due to security concerns.

Following the development, SLC stated that it had prioritized players’ safety and discussed the matter with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

“SLC immediately engaged with the players and assured them that all such concerns are being duly addressed in close coordination with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the relevant authorities to ensure the safety and well-being of every member of the touring party,” the statement read.

“In this context, SLC has instructed all players, support staff, and team management to continue with the tour as scheduled,” it added.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

The board further clarified that any player or support staff choosing to return home would be replaced immediately to ensure the series proceeded without disruption.

“However, should any player or member of the touring party decide to return to Sri Lanka despite the directive issued by SLC to continue with the tour, Sri Lanka Cricket will immediately send replacements to ensure that the tour continues without interruption,” the board said.

“If any player, players, or member of the support staff return despite SLC’s directives, a formal review will be conducted to assess their actions, and an appropriate decision will be made upon the conclusion of the review.”

Earlier today, the Sri Lankan High Commissioner expressed satisfaction over the security arrangements after meeting with Chairman PCB Mohsin Naqvi.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and PCB Chairman Naqvi met with the Sri Lankan High Commissioner, Rear Admiral (R) Fred Siriweera, and the team manager, assuring them of full-proof security throughout their stay.

For the unversed, Sri Lanka is currently touring Pakistan for a three-match ODI series and a T20I tri-series.

Pakistan leads the ODI series 1-0, with the remaining two ODIs to be scheduled on 13 and 15 November at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.

The ODI series will be followed by a T20I tri-series featuring Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan.

READ: Sri Lanka envoy hails team’s security arrangements

RAWALPINDI: The Sri Lankan High Commissioner expressed satisfaction over the security arrangements after meeting with Chairman Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Mohsin Naqvi. 

Sri Lanka is currently touring Pakistan for a three-match ODI series and a T20I tri-series.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and PCB Chairman Naqvi met with the Sri Lankan High Commissioner, Rear Admiral (R) Fred Siriweera, and the team manager, assuring them of full-proof security throughout their stay.

He personally guaranteed the team’s safety and emphasized that all necessary measures had been put in place.

“Federal Interior Minister and PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi met today with Sri Lankan High Commissioner Rear Admiral (R) Fred Siriweera,” the PCB said in its statement.

“‎During the meeting, the Chief Commissioner and the IG Islamabad Police gave a detailed briefing on the security being provided to the Sri Lankan team,” it added.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

This comes after the Sri Lankan players sought an early exit from the Pakistan tour amid security concerns.

Following the assurances, the Sri Lankan Cricket Board instructed the players to complete the remaining matches of the tour. Sources from the board confirmed that any player who leaves the tour prematurely will face a two-year ban.

For the unversed, Pakistan leads the ODI series 1-0, with the remaining two ODIs to be schedule on 13 and 15 November at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. The ODI series will be followed by a T20I tri-series featuring Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan.

T20I Tri-Series (Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe)

17 November – Pakistan v Zimbabwe, Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi

19 November – Sri Lanka v Zimbabwe, Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi

22 November – Pakistan v Sri Lanka, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore

23 November – Pakistan v Zimbabwe, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore

25 November – Sri Lanka v Zimbabwe, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore

27 November – Pakistan v Sri Lanka, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore

29 November –Final, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore

READ: Salman Ali Agha soars, Babar Azam slips in ICC ODI Rankings

DUBAI: Pakistan all-rounder Salman Ali Agha has achieved a career-best ranking following his match-winning performance against Sri Lanka, while former captain Babar Azam continues to slide in the latest ICC Men’s ODI Rankings released on Wednesday.

Salman guided Pakistan to a thrilling six-run victory in the opening ODI at Rawalpindi on Tuesday with a magnificent unbeaten 105 off 87 balls.

Consequently, he jumped 14 places in the ICC Men’s ODI Batting Rankings, climbing to 16th position with 639 rating points, his highest tally to date.

Meanwhile, Saim Ayub continued his upward trajectory, rising 18 places to joint 35th, thanks to back-to-back fifties against South Africa, despite managing only six runs against Sri Lanka.

On the other hand, senior players endured mixed fortunes. Babar Azam, who scored 29 runs in the first ODI against Sri Lanka, slipped two spots to seventh.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

Meanwhile, Mohammad Rizwan fell four places to 27th after scoring just five runs, and Fakhar Zaman dropped five positions to 31st following his 55-ball 32.

Among bowlers, Haris Rauf made notable gains after his four-wicket haul against Sri Lanka, moving up three spots to 28th in the ICC Bowling Rankings.

Mystery spinner Abrar Ahmed, despite not featuring in the Rawalpindi ODI, surged 18 places to 20th, courtesy of his stellar 4-27 in the series-deciding win against South Africa, his best ODI performance yet.

Skipper Shaheen Shah Afridi dropped one place to 16th, while among all-rounders, Salman Ali Agha continued his rise, climbing seven spots to 11th, making him Pakistan’s highest-ranked all-rounder in ODIs.

In the same category, Naseem Shah improved three positions to 28th, Saim Ayub jumped 12 spots to 37th, while Shaheen Afridi slipped two places to 30th.

READ: Pakistan Shaheens reach Doha for ACC Rising Stars Asia Cup 2025

RAWALPINDI: Pakistan middle-order batter Salman Ali Agha shared his thoughts after scoring an unbeaten century that propelled Pakistan to a winning total against Sri Lanka.

Pakistan sealed a narrow six-run victory over the visitors after amassing 299-5 in their 50 overs.

In reply, Sri Lanka fought till the last over, falling short with 293-9 on the board.

Salman Ali Agha and Hussain Talat starred with the bat, both scoring the bulk of the runs and lifting their team out of trouble with a mammoth 138-run stand on the fifth wicket.

Salman remained unbeaten with 105 from just 87 deliveries, peppered with nine fours, whereas Hussain Talat’s maiden made 62 from 63, striking half a dozen fours and a six.

For Sri Lanka, Wanindu Hasaranga picked up three wickets, whereas Asitha Fernando and Maheesh Theekshana managed to scalp one apiece.

Speaking in the post-match presentation, Agha highlighted the partnership and revealed how they batted in a pressure situation.

“I just wanted to be in the present and play on the ball’s merit. That worked. The partnership with Hussain set the tone. We were in a bit of a dig, so we wanted to take the game on,” he said.

“It was not easy to bat against the new ball, but we wanted to play our shots and also take our singles and twos. The running between us was the highlight of the partnership,” Agha explained.

He emphasized Pakistan’s deep batting lineup and said they aimed to amass 100 runs in the last ten overs.

“After 35 overs, Hussain and I were set so we wanted to take the game on. We knew if we take 7-8 per over till over 40, then we have Nawaz later, and Faheem after. So we knew we can score 100 in the last ten so we wanted to take it deep,” he concluded.

The second ODI between the two sides will be played on 13 November at the same venue.

READ: Babar Azam equals Virat Kohli’s unwanted record

RAWALPINDI: Pakistan’s top-order batter Babar Azam joined India ace Virat Kohli in an unwanted century drought record during the ODI clash against Sri Lanka here on Tuesday.

Babar came when Pakistan were 14-1 in 4.1 overs and added 54 runs on the second wicket with Fakhar Zaman.

However, he was castled by Wanindu Hasanranga while batting on 29. Babar played 51 deliveries and struck three fours in his knock.

With his dismissal, he joined Kohli on the list of players who went through a long stretch without scoring a century in international cricket.

The innings marked  Babar’s 83rd international match without a century. The 31-year-old’s last century came against Nepal in the 2023 Asia Cup.

Similarly, Kohli, who had gone through a rough patch, scored a century in his 84th innings against Afghanistan in 2023.

Players No. of Innings Without Century

Sanath Jayasuriya 88 – innings
Virat Kohli 83 – innings
Babar Azam 83* – innings
Shivnarine Chanderpaul – 78 innings

Notably, former Sri Lanka opener and their current head coach, Sanath Jayasuriya, is at the top of the list of players who endured a rough patch and could not notch up a ton for a long time.

Put into bat first in the ODI series opener, the home side piled up 299-5 in their 50 overs despite being reduced to 95-4 at one stage of their innings.

Salman Ali Agha and Hussain Talat starred with the bat, both scoring the bulk of the runs and lifting their team out of trouble with a mammoth 138-run stand on the fifth wicket.

Salman remained unbeaten with 105 from just 87 deliveries, peppered with nine fours, whereas Hussain Talat’s maiden made 62 from 63, striking half a dozen fours and a six.

For Sri Lanka, Wanindu Hasaranga picked up three wickets, whereas Asitha Fernando and Maheesh Theekshana managed to scalp one apiece.

READ: Agha’s century powers Pakistan to commanding total

RAWALPINDI: Salman Ali Agha’s unbeaten ton, followed by Haris Rauf’s four-wicket haul, led Pakistan to a narrow six-run victory against Sri Lanka in the ODI series opener here at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Tuesday.

Set a stiff 300-run target, Sri Lanka managed to score 293-9 in their allotted 50 overs.

Pathum Nissanka and debutant Kamil Mishara started strong, adding 85 for the opening wicket in just 11.4 overs. The duo batted with freedom and targeted vivid bowling from Pakistan’s pacers.

The Islanders were cruising, but the introduction of pacer Haris Rauf jolted with three quick wickets and lifted the home side. As a result, they slide from 85-0 to 90-3 in 13.2 overs.

Kamil Mishara (38 from 36 balls) and Kusal Mendis (0) were sent back on successive deliveries. Meanwhile, Nissanka followed them after making 29 from 39 with the help of three fours.

With wickets tumbling, Sadeera Samarawickrama and skipper Charith Asalanka partnered and stitched a 57-run partnership. It was Rauf again for Green Shirts that provided the much-needed breakthrough.

Samarawickrama was caught at the slips, thanks to Babar Azam’s blinder. The right-hander struck six fours in his 48-ball 39.

Pakistan continued to mount pressure and tore through the lower-middle order, but Wanindu Hasaranga stood in their way and kept his side in the hunt till the end.

He scored a brisk 59 from 52, studded with seven boundaries, before getting dismissed in the second last over.

For Pakistan, Haris Rauf remained the pick of the bowlers, taking a four-wicket haul. Faheem Ashraf and Naseem Shah also chipped in with two wickets each.

Earlier, Salman Ali Agha’s second ODI ton and Hussain Talat’s maiden half-century pulled Pakistan out of the trouble and helped them post a strong total.

Put into bat first in the ODI series opener, Pakistan piled up 299-5 in their 50 overs despite being reduced to 95-4 at one stage of their innings.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

Asitha Fernando started the proceedings for Sri Lanka, trapping the in-form Saim Ayub lbw for six in the fourth over.

After the early wicket, Fakhar Zaman and Babar Azam paired for a 54-run partnership coming on 84 balls, thanks to the visitors’ clinical bowling.

However, Zaman’s wicket in the 17th over triggered a mini collapse. The left-hander made 32 from 55 balls before getting stumped off Wanindu Hasaranga’s bowling.

Soon after, Mohammad Rizwan (5) was trapped lbw as well, courtesy of Wanindu Hasaranga’s spin wizardry. The home side were further left in dire straits as Babar Azam was castled by a beauty from Hasaranga.  He made 29 from 51 with the aid of three fours.

Consequently, Green Shirts slumped from 68-1 to 95-4 in the span of six overs.

Sri Lanka were all over Pakistan, but it was Salman Ali Agha’s and Hussain Talat’s 138-run partnership, which not only took the home side out of trouble, but also helped in reaching an above-par total.

The duo batted with responsibility at a brisk rate and brought the total to 233 in 43.3 overs. The stand eventually culminated with Talat’s wicket, who fell after scoring 62 from 63, striking six fours and a maximum.

Meanwhile, Salman continued and forged another 66* run partnership with Mohammad Nawaz, who scored a quick-fire 36* from just 23 balls, laced with five fours and a six.

The duo put on a show at the end and accumulated 59 from the last five overs, bringing the total near the 300-run mark. Salman notched up his second ODI ton in the process and remained unbeaten with 105* from 87 balls, studded with nine fours.

For Sri Lanka, Wanindu Hasaranga picked up three wickets, whereas Asitha Fernando and Maheesh Theekshana managed to scalp one apiece.

RAWALPINDI: Sri Lanka have won the toss and opted to field first in the first One Day International (ODI) of the three-match series against Pakistan at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium here on Tuesday.

Playing XIs

HEAD TO HEAD

Pakistan and Sri Lanka have faced each other in 157 One Day International (ODI) matches. The Green Shirts have won 93, while Sri Lanka came out victorious in 59. A solitary match ended in a tie, while four ended in no result.

Matches 157, Pakistan 93, Sri Lanka 59, No Result 4, Tie 1

Catch Pakistan vs Sri Lanka news updates here!

Pakistan recently wrapped up a successful home series against South Africa, winning both the T20I and ODI series 2-1, while the Test series ended in a 1-1 draw.

After the ongoing ODI series, Zimbabwe will join the two teams for a T20I tri-series starting on November 17.

The opening fixtures will take place in Rawalpindi, before the tournament shifts to Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium, where the final will be played on November 29.

READ: Babar Azam eyes multiple ODI records as Pakistan face Sri Lanka

RAWALPINDI: Pakistan batting maestro Babar Azam stands on the cusp of several career-defining milestones during the three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka, beginning today at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.

The 31-year-old right-hander has an impressive record against Sri Lanka, scoring 535 runs in just 11 innings at an average of 53.50, including three centuries.

Another ton in the upcoming series would see him join former Pakistan stars Mohammad Hafeez and Inzamam-ul-Haq as the joint second-highest century-makers against the Islanders, with four centuries each.

The all-time record, however, remains with Saeed Anwar, who struck seven hundreds in 52 matches.

Babar also has a chance to surpass Pakistan’s 1992 World Cup-winning captain Imran Khan, who amassed 636 ODI runs against Sri Lanka.

A tally of 102 runs in this series would push Babar ahead on that list, further cementing his dominance against one of Pakistan’s longest-standing rivals.

The former captain is also closing in on a major home record.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

With 4,848 runs across formats in Pakistan at an average of 51.57, Babar needs just 152 more to become only the fourth Pakistani batter to cross 5,000 international runs on home soil, joining Javed Miandad, Inzamam-ul-Haq, and Mohammad Yousuf.

Additionally, Babar Azam is just one century away from matching Saeed Anwar’s record for the most ODI hundreds by a Pakistani batter.

Anwar leads with 20 centuries, followed closely by Babar’s 19. Should Babar reach the 20-century mark within his next 41 innings, he will eclipse AB de Villiers to become the third-fastest player in history to achieve the feat, trailing only Hashim Amla (108 innings) and Virat Kohli (133 innings).

Fastest Players to 20 ODI Centuries:

• Hashim Amla – 108 innings
• Virat Kohli – 133 innings
• AB de Villiers – 175 innings
• Rohit Sharma – 183 innings

Pakistan enter the series on a high, having recently defeated South Africa 2-1 in both the T20I and ODI series, while the Test series ended in a 1-1 stalemate.

The three ODIs between Pakistan and Sri Lanka will be played on November 11, 13, and 15 in Rawalpindi.

Historically, the sides have clashed 157 times in ODIs, with Pakistan holding a strong edge, winning 93 matches compared to Sri Lanka’s 59.

READ: Shaheen Afridi breaks silence on replacing Mohammad Rizwan as captain

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Monday unveiled a five-member commentary panel for the upcoming One Day International (ODI) series against Sri Lanka.

The star-studded panel features renowned cricketing voices and former Sri Lanka cricketer Russel Arnold and Roshan Abeysinghe. The duo will be joined by Pakistan Test captains Aamir Sohail and Waqar Younis,

Meanwhile, former Pakistan cricketer Urooj Mumtaz will also take up the mic in the series against the Islanders, while Zainab Abbas will provide viewers with expert analysis during pre- and post-match shows on PCB’s PitchSide Studio.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Pakistan Cricket (@therealpcb)

The opening match of the series will be played tomorrow at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, while the action will move to Lahore for the second and third games, scheduled for November 13 and 15.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

Charith Asalanka will lead the 16-member Sri Lankan side, which will play three ODIs and participate in the T20I tri-series involving Pakistan and Zimbabwe.

The tri-series will begin on November 17, with the final scheduled to take place at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on November 29.

Sri Lanka Squad

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

Pakistan Squad

Shaheen Shah Afridi (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Faisal Akram, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah Hussain Talat, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan (wicket-keeper), Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha

Sri Lanka tour to Pakistan

11 November – First ODI at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi

13 November – Second ODI at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi

15 November – Third ODI at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi

READ: Gunmen open fire at Naseem Shah’s house