Pakistan make 4 adjustments and bat as they eye sequence sweep
Toss Pakistan selected to bat vs Afghanistan
Pakistan received the toss and, as has been the theme of this sequence, elected to bat first in opposition to Afghanistan because the groups moved to Colombo for the third and closing ODI.
Since they’ve already sealed the sequence 2-0 and with their first Asia Cup fixture simply 4 days away, Pakistan determined to relaxation a number of the key members of the taking part in XI, making 4 adjustments to the aspect that won the second ODI. Usama Mir, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf and Iftikhar Ahmed have been all omitted. In got here Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf and Mohammad Wasim.
Babar Azam stated the pitch appeared slightly bit dry, and the primary ten overs can be essential. He additionally stated that was anticipating a high-scoring affair.
Afghanistan additionally made two adjustments, bringing in Gulbadin Naib and Fareed Ahmad rather than Ikram Alikhil and Abdul Rahman. Naib had been drafted into the squad for the third ODI earlier within the day rather than Azmatullah Omarzai, who has a aspect pressure.
Having bossed the opening ODI the place they rolled over Afghanistan for simply 59, Pakistan have been handed a a lot sterner check within the second sport. Rahmanullah Gurbaz’s run-a-ball 151 helped Afghanistan rack up 300 for five however Naseem held his nerve within the chase to take his aspect over the road within the penultimate ball of the sport.
It is prone to be humid in Colombo, however rain is unlikely to trigger any interruptions to the sport. Crucially, a win right here will take Pakistan to the highest of the ODI rankings.
Playing XIs
Pakistan: 1 Imam-ul-Haq, 2 Fakhar Zaman, 3 Babar Azam (capt), 4 Mohammad Rizwan (wk), 5 Saud Shakeel, 6 Agha Salman, 7 Shadab Khan, 8 Mohammad Nawaz, 9 Faheem Ashraf, 10 Shaheen Afridi, 11 Mohammad Wasim
Afghanistan: 1 Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), 2 Ibrahim Zadran, 3 Riaz Hassan, 4 Hashmatullah Shahidi (capt), 5 Gulbadin Naib, 6 Mohammad Nabi, 7 Rashid Khan, 8 Shahidullah Kamal, 9 Mujeeb Ur Rahman, 10 Fazalhaq Farooqi, 11 Fareed Ahmad