Pakistan need a crushing victory over already-eliminated Sri Lanka and will need help from England to keep their hopes of the T20 World Cup semi-finals alive when they play their final Super 8 match on Saturday. Pakistan is currently ranked third.
New Zealand are in a better position with 3 runs and a better net run rate of 3.050, New Zealand are in pole position compared to Pakistan’s only score in both games and a negative NRR of -0.461. Pakistan have just one point from two matches and will need a near-perfect performance to advance.
Sahibzada Farhan was Pakistan’s top performer as he scored 283 runs at an average of 70.75, including 1 and 2 fifties. Apart from him, no other batsman scored a big score and star players like Babar Azam (91) and Agar (44) also performed poorly. Pakistan will be counting on Fakhar Zaman and bowlers Usman Tariq and Shaheen Shah Afridi to perform well in this must-win game.
For co-hosts Sri Lanka, the focus will be on giving fans a victory in the final game. After a huge win over Australia, Sri Lanka lost their last three matches to Zimbabwe, England and New Zealand. Early wickets and a lackluster performance with bat and ball put the team in trouble and they needed to regroup quickly to finish the home game on a high note.
Pakistan vs Sri Lanka expected lineup:
Sri Lanka: Dasun Shanaka (c), Kusal Mendis (wk), Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Perera (wk), Pavan Rathnayake, Dushan Hemantha, Kamindu Mendis, Dilshan Madushanka, Pramod Madushan, Maheesh Theekshana, Dunith Wellalage.
Pakistan: Salman Ali Agha (centre), Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Sahibzada Farhan, Usman Khan (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Saim Ayub Ayub), Shadab Khan, Salman Mirza, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usman Tariq.
Squad:
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Sri Lanka: Dasun Shanaka (centre), Kusal Mendis (wk), Kamil Mishara, Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Perera (wk), Pavan Rathnayake, Charith Asalanka, Dushan Hemantha, Janith Liyanage, Kamindu Mendis, Dushmantha Chameera, Dilshan Madushanka, Pramod Madushan, Maheesh Theekshana, Dunith Wellalage.
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Pakistan: Salman Ali Agha (centre), Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Khawaja Nafay (wk), Sahibzada Farhan, Usman Khan (wk), Faheem Ashraf Ashraf, Mohammad Nawaz, Saim Ayub, Shadab Khan, Abrar Ahmed, Naseem Shah, Salman Mirza, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usman Tariq.
