Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, World Cup 2023 Match 10: Toss

Dasun Shanaka won toss and opted to bat at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Uppal, Hyderabad. He expects the pitch to turn later in the match.

Sri Lanka have been bolstered by the return of Maheesh Theekshana, their main spinner in Wanindu Hasaranga’s absence. Theekshana had missed the South Africa match with an injury. Pakistan have, meanwhile, dropped out-of-form Fakhar Zaman.

PAK vs SL, CWC 2023 Match 10: Team updates and XIs

Pakistan: Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Imam-ul-Haq, Abdullah Shafique, Saud Shakeel, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Nawaz, Shadab Khan, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf.

Sri Lanka: Dasun Shanaka (c), Kusal Mendis (wk), Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Perera, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Dhananjaya de Silva, Charith Asalanka, Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Dilshan Madushanka, Matheesha Pathirana.

On a pitch that has assisted spinners in the first two matches, to make use of Theekshana’s return. He replaced fast bowler Kasun Rajitha in the XI.

Pakistan, meanwhile, have left out Fakhar Zaman, who has been struggling for form since he made three consecutive hundreds against New Zealand earlier this year. They have brought in Abdullah Shafique.

Pakistan hold a 7-0 lead against Sri Lanka – the joint-most matches a side has won at the World Cup without a single defeat (India also have won all seven of their matches against Pakistan). However, six of these came before 1996, the year that marked Sri Lanka’s rise as a cricketing power. Since then, Pakistan’s only win has come in 2011.

Trivia: Pakistan and Sri Lanka have met in Hyderabad before at the World Cup before – at today’s venue’s namesake city in Pakistan. That match in 1987 was the first World Cup game played outside England.