RAWALPINDI: Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to bowl first in the third and final T20 International against Pakistan at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Tuesday, as the hosts aim to complete a clean sweep of the series.
Pakistan have already secured an unassailable 2-0 lead after winning the first match by four wickets and the second by 82 runs. Sri Lanka, meanwhile, will be looking to salvage pride with a consolation victory in the final fixture.
Pakistan make four changes, Sri Lanka one
Both teams have made changes to their playing combinations, with Pakistan bringing in four players and Sri Lanka making one adjustment.
Sri Lanka captain Kusal Mendis opted to bowl first for the third consecutive match, with the visitors aiming to improve their performance in the middle overs, both with bat and ball, and sharpen their fielding. Maheesh Theekshana has been rested, while Vijayakanth Viyasakanth returns to the side.
Pakistan captain Sahibzada Farhan said he would also have preferred to field first. He expressed hope that the match would provide an opportunity for Pakistan’s middle-order batters to spend time at the crease and score runs.
Razaullah, Arafat Minhas, Sufiyan Muqeem and Abdul Samad have been included in Pakistan’s lineup as the hosts ring the changes for the series finale.
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Pakistan squad: Sahibzada Farhan (captain), Abdul Samad, Abrar Ahmed, Arafat Minhas, Fakhar Zaman, Hasan Nawaz, Muhammad Imran Randhawa, Khawaja Nafay, Maaz Sadaqat, Naseem Shah, Razaullah, Saim Ayub, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Shadab Khan and Sufiyan Muqeem.
Sri Lanka squad: Kusal Mendis (captain), Kamil Mishara, Sineth Jayawardena, Lahiru Udara, Sahan Arachchige, Kamindu Mendis, Dasun Shanaka, Chamindu Wickramasinghe, Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Vijayakanth Viyasakanth, Dushmantha Chameera, Binura Fernando, Nuwan Thushara and Eshan Malinga.
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Pakistan hold the advantage in the T20I head-to-head record, having won 19 of their 32 encounters with Sri Lanka, who have registered 13 victories.
The Green Shirts have also enjoyed better recent form, recording three wins in their last five T20Is, compared with Sri Lanka’s one victory over the same period.
