PAK vs SL: Pakistan Playing XI vs Sri Lanka, Asia Cup 2023, Super Four Match 5 Announced
(Courtesy : AFP)
Winner of the Pakistan vs Sri Lanka match will play India in the final of the Asia Cup 2023 on September 17.
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Pakistan have named their playing XI for the upcoming do-or-die match of the Asia Cup 2023 against Sri Lanka, which will be played in Colombo on September 14, 2023.
India have already qualified for the final after thumping wins over Pakistan and Sri Lanka, while Bangladesh has been knocked out after losing to Pakistan and Sri Lanka. This makes the Pakistan vs Sri Lanka a virtual semi-final for both teams.
The winner of this match will proceed to play India in the final of the Asia Cup on Sunday, September 17, also to be played in Colombo.
The Men in Green have already been handicapped as they have lost the services of pacers Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf. While Rauf had sustained a side strain ahead of the reserve day play against India and didn’t bowl in the Indian innings; Naseem Shah had suffered a shoulder injury and has been ruled out of the tournament as a precaution.
This means that Pakistan has made five changes to their playing XI for the match against Sri Lanka.
Fakhar Zaman dropped; Saud Shakeel and Mohammad Wasim Jr included
Pakistan have called in Mohammad Wasim Jr. to replace Haris Rauf in the playing XI, while pacer with a slingy action, Zaman Khan has received a call-up and will replace Naseem Shah in the team. One more change has been made in the bowling unit.
Pakistan have gone with an extra spinner in Mohammad Nawaz to partner Shadab Khan.
As for the batting unit, Saud Shakeel has replaced Salman Ali Agha who had suffered an injury after he was hit in the face while attempting a sweep against Ravindra Jadeja against India. Agha suffered a cut below his eye and it bled before the physio stemmed the flow.
Another big change made was opener Fakhar Zaman was dropped from the opening position and was replaced by keeper-batter Mohammad Haris, who is known for going after the bowling from the get-go.
Here is the Pakistan XI for the Sri Lanka match: Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Haris, Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Saud Shakeel, Iftikhar Ahmed, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Zaman Khan, Mohammad Wasim Jnr.