Big picture – Pakistan go in as favourites
There were a few things we learned from the first game, though. The Rawalpindi surface isn’t quite as partial to fingerspin as T20 pitches in the subcontinent have been, which induced the hosts into playing three frontline seamers. Pakistan, who were playing with at least five potential opening batters, appear to have rejigged their batting order by pushing the timeless Fakhar Zaman up top and sending Saim Ayub at No. 5.
But there’s only so much that can be read into a lone T20I at the start of a long tour for Sri Lanka. Pakistan have an opportunity to wrap the series up by winning the second game, also in Rawalpindi, on Sunday, and will be favourites to do so after a dominant performance in the first. The worry for Sri Lanka is that their own indifferent showing comes on the back of three crushing defeats in England. On Sunday, they will try to show this is more of a temporary rut than a fair representation of their current T20I state.
Form guide
Pakistan: WLWWL (last five completed matches, most recent first)
Sri Lanka: LWLLL
In the spotlight – Naseem and Theekshana
Naseem has worked his way back with respectable showings at a domestic 50-over tournament and the CPL. There might be hope of a foundation for a good run beginning to take shape, but it remains far too early to say.
It appeared to have deprived Theekshana of the ability to slow the ball down as required, with Sahibzada Farhan often picking off the quicker pace with relative ease. Whether this remodelled action sticks will be a point of intrigue in this series.
Team news – Will Wellalage be pushed down?
Pakistan captain Farhan said he was thoroughly pleased by the performance in the first T20I. So an unchanged Pakistan side for the second T20I would not be a massive surprise.
Pakistan: 1 Sahibzada Farhan (capt), 2 Fakhar Zaman, 3 Maaz Sadaqat, 4 Hasan Nawaz, 5 Saim Ayub, 6 Khawaja Nafay (wk), 7 Shadab Khan, 8 Mohammad Imran, 9 Razaullah, 10 Naseem Shah, 11 Abrar Ahmed
Sri Lanka: 1 Lahiru Udara, 2 Kusal Mendis (capt, wk), 3 Sineth Jayawardena, 4 Kamindu Mendis, 5 Kamil Mishara, 6 Sahan Arachchige, 7 Dasun Shanaka, 8 Dunith Wellalage, 9 Dushmantha Chameera, 10 Maheesh Theekshana, 11 Eshan Malinga
Pitch and conditions
The extra grass on the surface in Rawalpindi meant it had something in it for the quicker bowlers. With a fresh strip expected for Sunday, that character is expected to hold. Temperatures will remain much the same, with a pleasant evening forecast.
Stats and trivia
- No side has beaten Pakistan five times in T20Is in Pakistan. Sri Lanka, having done so four times, have a chance to become the first team to do so.
- The 29 extras Pakistan conceded on Friday were the most they have ever leaked in a T20I. Their previous highest was 20, against Sri Lanka in the group-stage match at the World T20 in 2009.
- Kusal Mendis is 90 runs away from overtaking Pathum Nissanka, who misses this series with injury, as Sri Lanka’s leading T20I run-scorer.
Danyal Rasool is Cricinfo’s Pakistan correspondent. @Danny61000
