Pakistan vs Sri Lanka match preview

Pakistan have played three matches in Hyderabad, including two warm-up games. Naturally, they will have an edge over Sri Lanka in terms of knowing the conditions better.

The Pakistan top order has been in shaky form, but their middle order has come good. Runs from the openers and Pakistan will be close to their best.

Sri Lanka were involved in a run-fest against South Africa in Delhi a couple of days back. They will have to adjust to a slightly trickier surface in Hyderabad.

Kusal Mendis has been their brightest prospect in the last few weeks, hitting form at the right time. They would want him to continue in his merry way. Maheesh Theekshana ias almost certain to play. If he does, it will bolster the Sri Lanka attack by leaps and bounds.

PAK vs SL fantasy tips

# Kusal Mendis has scored 341 runs in his last six ODIs at an average of 56.8 and a strike rate of 101.5 with four fifties. He is in red-hot form and should be in your team.

# Mohammad Rizwan has been in tremendous form with the bat and has a great record against Sri Lanka in ODIs – average of 111 and strike rate of 110.4. He should be another certainty in your XI.

# Shadab Khan has taken 14 wickets from eight ODIs against Sri Lanka, his most against any opponent. He may not be in the best of form, but the Hyderabad surface has aided spin and this will be a good opportunity for him to pick some wickets apart from scoring some runs as he did in the last game against Netherlands.

# Kusal Perera has not had a great return to ODI cricket, scoring only 24 runs in his last three games. He can be avoided, unless you want to take a risk and pick him. If he clicks, he can take the game away quickly and give a truckload of points.

Pakistan vs Sri Lanka predicted XIs

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

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

PAK vs SL Dream11 team

Wicketkeepers: Kusal Mendis, Mohammad Rizwan.

Batters: Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Charith Asalanka.

All-rounders: Iftikhar Ahmed, Shadab Khan, Dunith Wellalage.

Bowlers: Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, Matheesha Pathirana.

Captaincy options: Mohammad Rizwan, Dunith Wellalage, Babar Azam.

Potential swaps: Kusal Perera for Iftikhar Ahmed, Dasun Shanaka for Iftikhar Ahmed.