Pakistan face Sri Lanka in Lahore with final place already secured
Sri Lanka won the toss and chose to field under lights, needing a win to reach the tri-nation final, while Pakistan made two changes to an unbeaten side.
Pakistan and Sri Lanka meet in the fifth match of the tri-nation one-day international series at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Tuesday, a game Sri Lanka must win to reach the final and one Pakistan enter already qualified and unbeaten.
Sri Lanka won the toss and chose to field. Their captain said the decision was taken because of the dew that settles under lights in Lahore, Express News reported. Pakistan captain Shaheen Shah Afridi said he would also have bowled first, and that his side would try to set a target of about 300.
Pakistan made two changes to the side that beat England. Muaz Sadaqat and Naseem Shah replace Saim Ayub and Razaullah, according to both Aaj News and Express News. Sri Lanka named an unchanged team, having chased down 430 to beat England earlier in the series: the second-highest successful chase in one-day international history, Express News reported.
Pakistan booked their place in the final on Sunday at the same ground, beating England by one wicket. Shadab Khan's century carried the chase: Pakistan invited England to bat, bowled them out for 241 in the 47th over, and reached 242 for the loss of nine wickets in the 48th.
Express News reported that with qualification already secured, Pakistan could look at resting key players, although the two changes made on Tuesday left the core of the side intact.
For Sri Lanka the position is straightforward: a win takes them into the final. Pakistan, who have won every match they have played in the competition so far, are using the game to sharpen form ahead of it, with Shaheen saying at the toss that his batsmen would aim for a total in the region of 300 to defend.
The series is a three-team competition that also includes England. The reports did not give the date or venue of the final.
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