Unbeaten Pakistan look to maintain winning run against Sri Lanka

LAHORE: Buoyed by Shadab Khan’s extraordinary rescue act against England, unbeaten Pakistan will look to maintain their winning momentum when they face Sri Lanka in the fifth match of the One-day International tri-series at the Gaddafi Stadium on Tuesday.

Pakistan have secured their place in Saturday’s final after winning all three matches, but the fixture offers captain Shaheen Shah Afridi’s side another opportunity to assess combinations and address concerns over the top order before the title decider.

Sri Lanka, meanwhile, will be keen to strengthen their position after beating England by two wickets earlier in the series. A victory on Tuesday would confirm their place in the final alongside Pakistan, while a Pakistan win would keep England’s hopes alive ahead of their last league match against Sri Lanka on Thursday.

The hosts enter the contest after one of the tournament’s most dramatic victories. Chasing England’s 242, Pakistan slumped to 154-9 before Shadab struck an unbeaten 113 off 96 balls, with 13 fours and five sixes, to secure a one-wicket win with 17 balls to spare.

His unbroken 89-run stand with Haris Rauf set a record for the highest 10th-wicket partnership in a successful ODI chase, surpassing the previous mark of 64 set by West Indies’ Deryck Murray and Andy Roberts against Pakistan in the 1975 World Cup.

The innings marked Shadab’s maiden ODI century and came after a difficult period in which his performances had attracted criticism. Speaking after the match, he acknowledged his recent struggles but said he had continued to work on his game.

“Obviously, I didn’t really have good performances in the recent past,” he said, adding that he had kept trying to do his best as a professional.

Shadab also credited Haris for his contribution to the partnership. “I think Haris deserves more credit than me,” he said, explaining that the two batters guided each other through the tense closing stages.

The partnership nearly ended when Shadab was given out lbw on 97. With Pakistan needing 20 runs, Haris urged him to review the decision; UltraEdge revealed an inside edge and the decision was overturned. Shadab later recalled Haris asking him: “Are you going to take the review home with you?”

SAIM RELEASED FROM SQUAD

The dramatic comeback also exposed Pakistan’s top-order frailties. Saim Ayub, who scored six against England, has since been released from the squad at his own request to return to domestic cricket and work on his batting form. Sahibzada Farhan has been named as his replacement.

The move follows another squad change a day earlier, when left-arm wrist spinner Sufiyan Moqim was released, with the Pakistan Cricket Board citing the nature of the Lahore pitches. Left-handed batter Maaz Sadaqat was added as cover for players carrying minor niggles and remains with the squad.

The team management will be looking for greater consistency from the top order, including Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman. Avoiding another early collapse will be crucial against a Sri Lankan side that has shown it can compete in tight matches.

Pakistan’s previous meeting with Sri Lanka offers encouragement. They won by 37 runs, with Salman Ali Agha scoring 107 off 90 balls, including nine fours and a six, before Shaheen led the bowling effort with three wickets.

Shaheen has taken seven wickets in three matches in the tri-series. Against England on Sunday, he became the fastest Pakistan fast bowler to claim 150 ODI wickets when he dismissed Tom Banton in the opening over.

The left-armer has also taken 20 wickets in seven ODIs at the Gaddafi Stadium. Four more would take him past Wasim Akram’s tally of 23 at the venue and make him its leading ODI wicket-taker.

Pakistan hold the advantage in the overall ODI head-to-head record. Of the 161 previous matches between the sides, Pakistan have won 97 and Sri Lanka 59, while one ended in a tie and four produced no result.

Pakistan rested from training on Monday after Sunday’s exhausting contest, while Sri Lanka practised at the Gaddafi Stadium. The hosts will hope the recovery time helps them regain energy after the emotional demands of their narrow victory.

With Pakistan already through to the final, Tuesday’s match will test whether Shadab’s heroics can inspire a more assured performance from the top order. Sri Lanka, meanwhile, have the chance to secure their place in Saturday’s title clash and leave England’s qualification hopes dependent on the final league fixture.

Published in Dawn, October 27th, 2026