PAK vs SL: Pakistan playing XI vs Sri Lanka, Match 8, ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 - Predicted

Pakistan will face Sri Lanka in Match No. 8 of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 on Tuesday in Hyderabad.

The start of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 has been superb, all teams have played at least one game each, which has made clear their combination and plans for the tournament. A few incredible wins have already been registered, while some brilliant individual performances have also taken place. Now it is time for Match No. 8.

Pakistan will be facing Asian rivals Sri Lanka in the coming game on Tuesday. This will be the second match of the double header, which will take place at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad. Pakistan are coming off a good win over Netherlands and will be feeling pretty well. We will talk about the predicted playing XI for Pakistan against Sri Lanka.

PAK vs SL: Pakistan's Predicted playing XI vs Sri Lanka

1. Fakhar Zaman:

Fakhar Zaman is the biggest concern for Pakistan at the top of the order, who is going through a bad phase. But the team has shown trust in him because they know the value of the impact he can create. Pakistan will look to retain him at the top, and if he can get going, Pakistan's chances will surely increase in this tournament.

2. Imam-ul-Haq:

Imam-ul-Haq has also looked below-par in the last few outings for his team. He had a poor Asia Cup 2023 and didn't have a great start in the last game. But he has a big caliber, and a batting average of over 50 in ODIs indicates it. Imam will look to have some runs under his belt and gain confidence for the rest of the tournament.

3. Babar Azam (c):

Babar Azam needs no introduction to this format, and he is one of the best batters in this tournament. He has scored 750 runs in 16 ODIs in 2023 at 46.87, with two centuries and six half-centuries. Babar needs just one innings to get going, and he can be the biggest match-winner for Pakistan in this tournament.

4. Mohammad Rizwan (wk):

Mohammad Rizwan came to Pakistan's rescue when they were 38-3 against Netherlands. He made a quick 68 runs off 75 with eight fours and took the game away from Dutch team. Rizwan batting at No. 4 has given a great balance to the team, and he has also performed pretty well at this position. Sri Lanka will have a big hurdle for him at No. 4.

5. Saud Shakeel:

Saud Shakeel ended the first game for Pakistan with the man of the match award. It was his innings of 68 off 52 that put Netherlands under pressure. Despite losing three early wickets, Saud played aggressive cricket and kept scoring runs. That is why he is very important for this middle-order because he can take on any bowling attack.

6. Iftikhar Ahmed:

Iftikhar Ahmed has been the x-factor for Pakistan in ODIs. He has performed with the bat and also with the ball in hand. He has scored 357 runs in nine innings in 2023 at an average and strike rate of 59.50 and 112.97, respectively, which are pretty impressive numbers. Iftikhar will be a key player if Pakistan are chasing or setting up the total.

7. Shadab Khan:

Shadab Khan scored some important runs in the last game, which helped Pakistan post a competitive total. He made 32 runs with the bat and then picked up one wicket. That is why Shadab is very important to this team because of his all-round ability. He can win games with both bat and ball and will be crucial against Sri Lanka.

8. Mohammad Nawaz:

Mohammad Nawaz had a pretty good game against Netherlands in Hyderabad last time around. He scored 39 vital runs and then took 1/31 in seven overs, picking up the important wicket of Bas de Leede. Nawaz will be expected to deliver something similar on Tuesday, and Sri Lankan batters have struggled against spin, and Nawaz can take advantage of that.

9. Hasan Ali:

Hasan Ali had a pretty decent outing on his return to the team in the World Cup. He took 2/33 in seven overs, including a maiden. Hasan's form will be a confidence booster for Pakistan, as they already lost Naseem Shah due to injury. The veteran pacer was the reason that Pakistan won Champions Trophy in 2017, and he can be a match-winner once again.

10. Shaheen Afridi:

A team can make plans against Shaheen Afridi, but he can still take wickets against them. That is the specialty of this bowler. He will be the biggest threat for Sri Lanka at the top because he is a wicket-taker with the new ball. If Shaheen can remove one or two early wickets, Pakistan will have the upper-hand.

11. Haris Rauf:

Haris Rauf was the best bowler for Pakistan in the opening game. He picked up 3/43 and finished the game with the final wicket. Haris is known for his pace and can rattle any batting line-up. A rare pace is always a challenge for any batter, and Haris can be seen bowling around 150 km/h consistently against Sri Lanka.