Pakistan are up against Sri Lanka in the first ODI of the three-match series at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Tuesday (November 11).
The fixture marks Sri Lanka’s return to Pakistan after six years and promises an exciting contest between two competitive Asian teams.

Pakistan, coming off a recent 2-1 home series win against South Africa, will look to assert dominance on home soil with a balanced team blending experienced campaigners like Babar Azam and emerging talents such as Saim Ayub. Sri Lanka, led by Charith Asalanka and bolstered by key players like Pathum Nissanka and Wanindu Hasaranga, aim to continue their good form following wins against Zimbabwe.
In ODIs, Pakistan and Sri Lanka have faced each other 157 times. Pakistan leads with 93 wins, compared to Sri Lanka’s 59. The last two encounters at Rawalpindi have been evenly poised, with both teams winning one match each. The venue has shown a batting-friendly surface with an average first-innings score of around 269 runs, and teams bowling first have historically held an advantage, with chasing sides having a 100% win rate recently.
This first ODI promises to set the tone for an engaging series as both teams fine-tune their squads and strategies ahead of upcoming ICC tournaments. Conditions at Rawalpindi will challenge both batting and bowling units, with dew playing a possible role later in the game, and toss winners likely to opt to bowl first.