- Pakistan made four changes for dead rubber.
- Shaheen Shah Afridi returns to playing XI.
- Pakistan have already sealed the ODI series 2-0.
Pakistan won the toss and decided to bowl first against Sri Lanka in the third and final ODI played at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Sunday.
Shaheen Shah Afridi, who returned to the playing XI after being rested, said the decision to bowl first is based on the surface and the match conditions. He said Pakistan have made four changes for the dead rubber.
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka’s stand-in captain Kusal Mendis, who leads in place of the ill Charith Asalanka, said his team has also made four changes.
Pakistan, who have already sealed the series 2-0 with consecutive wins, will aim for a clean sheet and their second home ODI series win.
Sri Lanka, meanwhile, will look to end the series on a positive note after losing the opening two matches in Rawalpindi.
In the second ODI, star batsman Babar Azam marked the end of his long century drought with an impressive ton to steer Pakistan to a dominant eight-wicket victory over Sri Lanka.
Set to chase 289, Pakistan comfortably chased down the target for the loss of just two wickets with 10 balls to spare.
The Green Shirts made a dominant start to the chase as their opening pair of Fakhar Zaman and Saim Ayub put together a spirited partnership and scored 77 runs in just 9.3 overs before the latter fell victim to Dushmantha Chameera.
Saim scored 33 off 25 deliveries smashing five fours and a six.
Walking out to bat at No.3, Babar joined Fakhar in the middle and the experienced duo ensured Pakistan’s momentum was maintained by knitting a 100-run stand which eventually culminated in the opener’s dismissal of Chameera in the 31st over.
Fakhar scored 78 off 93 deliveries with the help of eight fours and a six.
Babar Azam, on the other hand, remained steadfast and ended his two-year international drought before leading Pakistan to series victory when he hit the winning runs on the second delivery of the penultimate over.
