The 8th match of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 is set to be held with Pakistan (PAK) squaring off against Sri Lanka (SL). PAK vs SL ODI encounter is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, October 10, at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad, India.
Pakistan enters this fixture with the wind in their sails, having secured a commanding win in their opening match against the Netherlands.
Although they faced an early scare when they were reeling at 38/3 after 9.1 overs, a resilient batting display, led by Saud Shakeel (68 off 52) and Mohammad Rizwan (68 off 75), guided them to a competitive total of 286.
Their bowling attack, spearheaded by the impressive Haris Rauf (3/43 in nine overs), further solidified their victory.
On the other hand, Sri Lanka’s campaign got off to a disastrous start as they were soundly defeated by South Africa, suffering a massive 102-run loss.
Adding intrigue to this clash is Sri Lanka’s less-than-stellar World Cup history against Pakistan. The island nation has lost all seven of its previous encounters with Pakistan in the tournament.
For Sri Lanka, this upcoming fixture holds tremendous importance as they strive to break their losing streak and register their first win in the tournament.
Led by Dasun Shanaka, the Sri Lankan team will need to quickly regroup after their devastating loss to South Africa and prepare themselves for the challenge posed by Pakistan.
The Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad has witnessed its share of exciting cricket encounters. In recent matches at this venue, teams batting first have held the advantage, with three out of the last five games won by sides setting targets.
The average first-innings score here has been around 282, and the highest successful chase stands at 250 in the venue’s history. The pitch is known to offer assistance to spinners, with the ball gripping and turning.
However, it also remains favorable for batting, suggesting that a total exceeding 320 when batting first could be a match-winning score. Captains winning the toss at this venue have usually opted to bat first, due to the pitch’s past behavior.
As both Pakistan and Sri Lanka seek to make their mark in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023, cricket fans around the world can anticipate an exciting contest filled with thrilling moments.
PAK vs SL Probable XI
Pakistan: Imam-ul-Haq, Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Saud Shakeel, Iftikhar Ahmed, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf
Sri Lanka: Kusal Perera, Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis (wk), Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dasun Shanaka (c), Dunith Wellalage, Matheesha Pathirana, Dilshan Madushanka, Lahiru Kumara/Maheesh Theekshana
Also Read: ODI World Cup 2023: Top 3 Captain Picks For PAK vs SL Fantasy Team