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Pakistan win toss, elect to bat first against Sri Lanka

Pakistan win toss, elect to bat first against Sri Lanka
September 30, 2019
KARACHI (92 News) – Pakistan have won the toss and elected to bat first against Sri Lanka in the second ODI at the National Stadium Karachi. The fixture was to be played on Sunday but heavy rain on Friday took a toll on the ground and prompted the cricketing boards of both teams to postpone the game by a day. The two sides will practice for the second ODI under tight security arrangements at the National Stadium. Pakistan are hosting Sri Lanka for an ODI series for the first time since January 2009. On Friday, Pakistan’s opening one-day international against Sri Lanka was abandoned with not a single ball bowled due to rain at National Stadium. The second ODI of the three-match series will be played in Karachi on Monday instead of Sunday. People will be able to watch the match on the tickets of the first match. Due to the heavy downpour, the ground pitch has been covered and it won’t be surprised if the match gets abandoned due to rain. “The clouds have hovered over the ground throughout the day and there was forecast of the heavy downpour until the end of the day.” Both the teams have also reached in the ground. The cricket fans are reaching to watch the match in home ground. Pakistan, hosting its first ODI in more than four years, wanted to treat the home crowd with a complete performance as the three-match series against Sri Lanka gets under way at National Stadium, Karachi. After a disappointing World Cup campaign, Pakistan, under their new coach Misbahul Haq, and with new faces in the squad, appear to be a motivated lot. They have focused on fitness in the run-up to the series and go into the series with confidence. The series presents an opportunity for players such as Iftikhar Ahmed, Muhammad Rizwan and Mohammad Nawaz, who are making comebacks into the national side, to establish themselves. After the World Cup, Sri Lanka put up three complete performances to whitewash Bangladesh in the three-match ODI series at home last month. But with senior players withdrawing from the tour of Pakistan, they face an uphill task in unfamiliar conditions. Teams: Pakistan: Sarfaraz Ahmed (captain), Abid Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, Haris Sohail, Imad Wasim, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Amir, Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Rizwan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Asif Ali, Usman Khan Shinwari Sri Lanka: Lahiru Thirimanne (captain), Danushka Gunathilaka, Oshada Fernando, Avishka Fernando, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Shehan Jayasuriya, Dasun Shanaka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Angelo Perera, Minod Bhanuka, Isuru Udana, Nuwan Pradeep, Kasun Rajitha, Lahiru Kumara, Lakshan Sandakan