Pakistan Fields Against Sri Lanka in Final ODI with Haseebullah’s Debut
Pakistan has made a strategic decision to field first in the third and final one-day international against Sri Lanka, played at Rawalpindi’s Pindi Cricket Stadium. The move comes as the team looks to complete a clean sweep after securing victories in the first two matches—winning the opener by six runs and the second game convincingly by eight wickets.
The Pakistan side saw the return of their pace spearhead, Shaheen Shah Afridi, who missed the previous game due to a bout of fever. Afridi’s comeback brought a few changes to the lineup, with Naseem Shah making way for the star bowler. All-rounders Faheem Ashraf and left-arm spinner Faisal Akram were also included, replacing Mohammad Nawaz and Abrar Ahmed. One of the most talked-about inclusions is young opening batter Haseebullah, who is making his debut in this series after Saim Ayub was rested.
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The toss itself was a brief but ceremonial moment, with Afridi flipping the coin and Sri Lanka’s Kusal Mendis observing, before the Pakistani captain decided to take the field. The scene was one of anticipation, with both teams making adjustments in their lineups to tackle the high-stakes decider.
Sri Lanka, on the other hand, also made four changes. Their regular skipper, Charith Asalanka, was unavailable due to illness, and leadership duties were handed over to Kusal Mendis. Making his ODI debut, Pavan Rathnayake replaced Asalanka, while spinner Jeffrey Vandersay and fast bowler Eshan Malinga joined the side, taking the spots of Wanindu Hasaranga and Dushmantha Chameera. In a tactical move to strengthen their spin attack, Maheesh Theekshana was recalled, and fast bowler Asitha Fernando was left out.
As the match commenced, Pakistan’s lineup read: Fakhar Zaman, Haseebullah, Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Salman Ali Agha, Hussain Talat, Faheem Ashraf, Mohammad Wasim, Shaheen Shah Afridi as captain, Haris Rauf, and Faisal Akram. Sri Lanka countered with Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara, Kusal Mendis as captain, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Pavan Rathnayake, Janith Liyanage, Kamindu Mendis, Maheesh Theekshana, Eshan Malinga, Pramod Madushan, and Jeffrey Vandersay.
The final ODI promised to be a thrilling encounter, with both sides adjusting their squads to test bench strength and adapt to conditions. Pakistan, buoyed by its earlier victories, looked to capitalize on momentum, while Sri Lanka aimed to respond with fresh talent and a strengthened spin attack. For fans, the debut of Haseebullah added an extra layer of excitement, offering a glimpse at the potential future stars of Pakistani cricket. The stage was set for a memorable showdown, with every ball carrying weight in what could be the defining match of the series.
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