Pakistan have decided to chase in Abu Dhabi, winning the toss and putting Sri Lanka in for this Super Fours contest. Both teams are still looking for their first points at this stage, so the maths is simple enough – lose today and the final starts to drift out of sight.
No surprises from Pakistan. The same XI that slipped up last time steps out again, with captain Salman Ali Agha explaining he just wants “to change things up” and, in the same breath, admitting the side must tighten how it finishes an innings. Fair enough; the closing overs cost them badly three nights ago.
Sri Lanka, meanwhile, tweak the balance. Chamika Karunaratne – only his third T20I of the year – comes back for extra seam, while mystery spinner Maheesh Theekshana replaces youngster Dunith Wellalage. Charith Asalanka said he would have chased too, but shrugged it off: “It looks a good pitch.” He added that while he’s largely satisfied with the way Sri Lanka are playing, “we just want to improve our performances at the death with both the bat and ball.”
For context, teams batting second here tend to need around 183. Early swing exists, but spinners rarely find much grip, which makes Pakistan’s decision logical enough. In truth, both sides simply need to break the losing run and regain a bit of rhythm.
Pakistan XI
Sahibzada Farhan, Fakhar Zaman, Saim Ayub, Hussain Talat, Mohammad Nawaz, Salman Agha (capt), Faheem Ashraf, Mohammad Haris (wk), Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed
Sri Lanka XI
Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis (wk), Kusal Perera, Charith Asalanka (capt), Dasun Shanaka, Kamindu Mendis, Wanindu Hasaranga, Chamika Karunaratne, Maheesh Theekshana, Dushmantha Chameera, Nuwan Thushara
