Sri Lanka Playing XI vs Pakistan- 1st ODI, Sri Lanka Tour of Pakistan 2025
Published - 10 Nov 2025, 05:45 PM | Updated - 10 Nov 2025, 05:46 PM
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Pakistan will take on Sri Lanka in the first of the three-match ODI series. This article provides details about Sri Lanka's Playing 11 vs Pakistan for the first match of the series.
Sri Lanka Playing XI vs Pakistan- 1st ODI, Sri Lanka Tour of Pakistan 2025
Openers: Pathum Nissanka, Lahiru Udara
Sri Lanka's first-choice team will take the field for the first time in international cricket since featuring in the 2025 edition of the Asia Cup when the former ODI World Cup winners take on Pakistan in the first ODI.
The Charith Asalanka-led side would want to get back into rhythm and start the three-match series with a win to have the upper hand going into the second match.
The visitors have announced a strong squad for this particular series, which has all its bases covered in both the batting and bowling departments.
The only concern for Lanka heading into the first ODI would be the opening combination, which the team hasn't been able to rectify in the last couple of years.
Lanka is expected to open the innings with the pair of Pathum Nissanka and wicketkeeper batter Lahiru Udara, who is yet to make his ODI debut.
The team would hope for Nissanka and Udara to get them off to a good start and score runs individually as well.
Middle-order batsmen and all-rounders: Kusal Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama (wk), Charith Asalanka (c), Kamindu Mendis, Janith Liyanage, Wanindu Hasaranaga
Unlike instability at the top of the order, Lanka's middle order looks settled and has come to the rescue of the team on several occasions in the recent past.
Having said that, the middle order, which comprises the likes of Kusal Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama, and captain Charith Asalanka, would hope for the openers to come good and provide a platform for them to take full advantage of.
If they can do so, it will increase Lanka's chances of starting the tour of Pakistan with a win.
Lanka would bank on their top five batters to have a good outing and score the majority of the runs for the team, both while batting first and while chasing.
Bowlers: Maheesh Theekshana, Dushmantha Chameera, Asitha Fernando
Lanka is expected to go into the first ODI against Pakistan with a plethora of spinners, as the conditions are expected to suit the spinners after Pakistan's win in the final game against South Africa.
Meaning that Sri Lanka's bowling attack will comprise four specialist bowlers with two spinners and as many fast bowlers at the helm, which has been Sri Lanka's standard operating procedure in the last few matches.
The fast bowling department of the visitors will be handled by Dushmantha Chameera and Asitha Fernando.
As far as the team's spin bowling arsenal for this particular match is concerned, it will include Maheesh Theekshana and Wanindu Hasaranga, with Janith Liyanage and Kamindu Mendis fulfilling the role of the fifth bowling option in the series opener.
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Pakistan National Cricket Team Pakistan vs Sri Lanka Sri Lanka vs Pakistan Shaheen Afridi Charith Asalanka Sri Lanka National Cricket Teams
