ODI World Cup 2023, Match 8: Pakistan vs Sri Lanka Match Preview

The action will continue in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 as Pakistan(PAK) and Sri Lanka(SL) will take on each other in Match 08 on Tuesday, October 10 at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad. Pakistan are coming into the fixture having won their opening game against the Netherlands by 81 runs.

The Babar Azam-led side were in trouble early on in the innings as they were reeling at 38/3 after 9.1 overs. However, valiant knocks from Saud Shakeel (68 off 52) and Mohammad Rizwan (68 off 75) took their side to 286. With the ball, Haris Rauf starred with figures of 3/43 in nine overs.

On the other hand, Sri Lanka were hammered by South Africa in their opening fixture as they were beaten by a massive margin of 102 runs. The trio of Quinton de Kock, Rassie van der Dussen and Aiden Markram unleashed their wrath on the depleted bowling attack of Sri Lanka and registered the highest team total in World Cup history (428/5).

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Furthermore, Aiden Markram ripped apart their entire bowling as he scored the fastest-ever hundred in the tournament’s history off 49 balls. The Dasun Shanaka-led side will need to quickly regroup after such a massive loss and prepare themselves for the Pakistan challenge. Notably, Sri Lanka don’t have a great record against Pakistan in the World Cup as they’ve lost all the seven matches played between the two sides. Their last fixture in the 2019 World Cup was washed out with a toss.

Hence the upcoming fixture becomes extremely crucial for Sri Lanka who will be eager to finally end their losing streak and register their first win of the tournament. On the other hand, Pakistan will look to continue their dominance and extend their winning streak.

PAK vs SL Pitch and Conditions

In the last five matches at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, three have been won by teams batting first. The average score batting first has been 282 while the highest target chased is 250 in the venue’s history. In the previous game played at the venue between Pakistan and Netherlands, spinners had good assistance as the ball gripped and turned. Despite that, the surface is great for batting and a total above 320 batting first could turn out to be a winning score. The captain winning the toss is likely to bat first, keeping the past record of the venue in mind.

Also Check: ODI Cricket World Cup 2023 Points Table

PAK vs SL Probable Playing XI for ODI World Cup 2023, Match 8

Pakistan (PAK)

Pakistan are likely to field the same playing XI as the last game and will not be willing to change their winning combination early in the innings.

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

Sri Lanka (SL)

Sri Lanka have been marred by an injury in their squad as off-spinner Maheesh Theekshana was ruled out of the first game due to a hamstring injury. The management would hope that the spinner recovers in time for the second game to reinforce their bowling attack.

Probable XI: Kusal Perera, Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis (wk), Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dasun Shanaka (c), Dunith Wellalage, Matheesha Pathirana, Dilshan Madushanka, Lahiru Kumara/Maheesh Theekshana

PAK vs SL Head-to-Head in ODIs