Pakistan will compete Sri Lanka In the first match of the three-match ODI series. This article provides details about the playing 11 of Sri Lanka vs Pakistan for the first match of the series.
Sri Lanka Playing XI vs Pakistan- 1st ODI, Sri Lanka tour of Pakistan 2025
Openers: Pathum Nissanka, Lahiru Udara
Sri Lanka’s first-choice team will take the field for the first time in international cricket after taking part in the 2025 edition of the Asia Cup, when the former ODI World Cup winners take on Pakistan in the first ODI.
The Charith Asalanka-led side would like to get back on track and start the three-match series with a win to give them an upper hand in the second match.
The visiting team has announced a strong squad for this special series, which includes both the batting and bowling departments.
The only area of ​​concern for Lanka in the first ODI will be the opening combination, which the team has not been able to get right in the last few years.
Lanka are expected to open the innings with the pair of Pathum Nissanka and wicketkeeper batsman Lahiru Udara, who are yet to make their ODI debut.
The team is hopeful that Nissanka and Udara will give them a good start and also score runs individually.
Middle-order batsmen and all-rounders: Kusal Mendis, Sadira Samarawickrama (wicketkeeper), Charith Asalanka (captain), Kamindu Mendis, Zenith Liyanage, Wanindu Hasarnaga.
In contrast to the instability at the top, Lanka’s middle order looks settled and has come to the team’s rescue on several occasions in recent times.
Having said that, the middle order, which includes players like Kusal Mendis, Sadira Samarawickrama and captain Charith Asalanka, will hope that the openers perform well and provide them with a platform to take full advantage.
If they can do this, it will increase Lanka’s chances of starting their Pakistan tour with a win.
Lanka will rely on their top five batsmen to perform well and score most of the runs for the team while batting first and chasing.
Bowlers: Mahesh Theekshana, Dushmantha Chameera, Asitha Fernando
It is expected that Lanka will go with a lot of spinners in the first ODI against Pakistan, as the conditions are expected to be favorable for the spinners after Pakistan’s win in the last match against South Africa.
Meaning that Sri Lanka’s bowling attack will consist of four specialist bowlers along with two spinners and the same number of fast bowlers, which has been Sri Lanka’s standard operating procedure in the last few matches.
Dushmantha Chameera and Asitha Fernando will handle the fast bowling department of the visiting team.
As far as the team’s spin bowling arsenal for this particular match is concerned, it will include Mahesh Theekshana and Wanindu Hasaranga, while Zenith Liyanage and Kamindu Mendis will play the role of the fifth bowling option in the opening match of the series.
