Big picture: Can Pakistan avenge Asia Cup loss?
Neither side has been entirely convincing with the bat of late. Pakistan suffered collapses against Thailand and India in the Asia Cup, while Sri Lanka struggled against Indonesia and Bangladesh. Sri Lanka, however, have been able to lean on their spinners to keep them in control of games.
For Pakistan, the challenge will be to find a way through Sri Lanka’s spin attack while avoiding another batting collapse. Can Pakistan avenge their Asia Cup semi-final defeat, or will Sri Lanka make it two wins in a row against them?
Pakistan WLWLW (last five completed T20Is, most recent first)
Sri Lanka WLWWW
Pakistan (probable): 1 Shawaal Zulfiqar, 2 Gull Feroza (wk), 3 Ayesha Zafar, 4 Fatima Sana (capt), 5 Aliya Riaz, 6 Eyman Fatima, 7 Tuba Hassan, 8 Eman Naseer , 9 Umm-e-Hani, 10 Tasmia Rubab, 11 Nashra Sandhu
For Sri Lanka, Nilakshika Silva fractured her finger during the Asia Cup and was sidelined for the Asia Games. Vishmi Gunaratne was dropped from the squad, with Sri Lanka giving batter Hansima Karunaratne and seamer Rashmika Sewwandi a chance in the opening game.
Sri Lanka (probable): 1 Imesha Dulani, 2 Chamari Athapaththu (capt), 3 Hasini Perera, 4 Kavisha Dilhari, 5 Harshitha Samarawickrama, 6 Hansima Karunaratne, 7 Kaushini Nuthyangana (wk), 8 Rashmika Sewwandi, 9 Mithali Ayodhya, 10 Chamudi Praboda, 11 Sugandika Kumari
