Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, 2019: 1st ODI: Dream11 Fantasy Cricket Tips – Playing XI, Pitch Report & Injury Update

Match Details:

The 1st ODI of the three-match series between Pakistan and Sri Lanka will be hosted by the National Stadium in Karachi.

The match starts at 3:00 PM local time (3: 30 IST) (10:00 AM GMT). This game will be live on Sony Six HD and Sony Six. Live Streaming will be available on Sony LIV.

Preview:

Finally after double security checks and a number of meetings, Sri Lanka tour of Pakistan is set to get underway. The history will be created when the two teams will take the field on Friday as the visiting team will be playing an ODI in Pakistan for the first time since 2015 when Zimbabwe had toured. The Islanders have arrived with a depleted side with 10 of their top players refusing to tour.

But all such news will be set to rest on Friday as the jam-packed crowd will welcome Sri Lanka with a huge roar. No wonder there is a lot of excitement around this series. This is also the first series for the newly appointed Pakistan coach Misbah-ul-Haq and he will be hoping that his boys put up a good effort in the middle.

Weather Condition/Report:

According to AccuWeather, the weather is set to be clear in Karachi. There will be a few clouds which shouldn’t be a worrying cause for many. Around 7 PM local time, there is a chance of rain with thunderstorms but things should clear up soon. The temperature will hover around 30-35 Degrees Celsius during the match.

Pitch Report:

With this being just the start of the season, the pitch at the National Stadium should be a good one to bat on. The spinners will definitely come into play later in the evening which means that the team winning the toss will mostly opt to bat first. There is also a forecast of dew coming into play which might change the captains’ mind.

Average first innings score: 246 (in 46 ODIs at the venue)

Record of the chasing teams: Won – 23; Lost – 21

Injury and Availability News:

(Will be added when there’s an update)

Probable Playing XIs:

Pakistan

Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam, Haris Sohail, Sarfaraz Ahmed (C & WK) Asif Ali, Imad Wasim, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Amir, Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Hasnain.

Bench – Abid Ali, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan, Usman Shinwari.

Sri Lanka

Avishka Fernando, Sadeera Samarawickrama (wk), Lahiru Thirimanne (C), Oshada Fernando, Shehan Jayasuriya, Dasun Shanaka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Isuru Udana, Lahiru Kumara, Nuwan Pradeep, Lakshan Sandakan.

Bench – Danushka Gunathilaka, Angelo Perera, Minod Bhanuka, Kasun Rajitha.

Top Picks

Babar Azam is the best Pakistan batsman at the moment and it is a no-brainer that he is one of the top picks. Apart from him Haris Sohail and Imam-ul-Haq can also make a significant impact. Wahab Riaz can extract reverse swing in the death overs if Pakistan bowls first. Under the lights, Amir could be threatening.

For Sri Lanka, Avishka Fernando will hold the key along with Lahiru Thirimanne. Dasun Shanaka has the ability to punch above his weight with both bat and ball.

Captain and Vice-Captain Selection:

Captain Options: Avishka Fernando, Babar Azam, Imam-ul-Haq

Vice-Captain Options: Dasun Shanaka, Fakhar Zaman, Isuru Udana

Suggested Playing XI for Head to Head/Small Leagues:

Keeper – Sadeera Samarawickrama

Batsmen – Babar Azam (C), Haris Sohail, Imam-ul-Haq, Avishka Fernando (VC)

All-Rounders – Imad Wasim, Dasun Shanaka, Wanidu Hasaranga

Bowlers – Mohammad Amir, Wahab Riaz, Isuru Udana.

Suggested Playing XI for Grand Leagues/Mega Leagues:

Keeper – Sarfaraz Ahmed

Batsmen – Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman (VC), Lahiru Thirimanne, Avishka Fernando (C), Oshada Fernando

All-Rounders – Dasun Shanaka

Bowlers – Mohammad Amir, Shadab Khan, Isuru Udana, Nuwan Pradeep.

Expert Advice:

It would be better to ignore Sarfaraz as he might not get to bat much. Samarawickrama is a top-order player and will definitely get a chance to showcase his skills.

Better pick your bowlers after the toss as there is uncertainty around who will play, especially in Sri Lanka’s case.

Probable Winners:

Pakistan is expected to start the series on a winning note.

*Disclaimer: This team is based on the understanding, analysis and instinct of the author. While selecting your team, consider the points mentioned and make your own decision.