Pakistan choose to field in Rawalpindi, look for 3-0 series sweep
/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/1658291910715754940.jpgPakistan captain Shaheen Afridi （left） and Sri Lanka captain Charith Asalanka at the toss ahead of the third ODI of the three-match series at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi on November 16, 2025. - PCBPakistan have won the toss and chosen to bowl first in the third ODI against Sri Lanka at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Sunday.
Shaheen Shah Afridi, returning to the playing XI after being rested, said the decision to bowl first is based on the surface and the match conditions. He said that Pakistan have made four changes for the dead rubber. Advertisement
The hosts won the three-match series 2–0 after a six-run win in the opener and an eight-wicket win in the second game, and will aim to complete a 3–0 whitewash.
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka’s stand-in captain Kusal Mendis, leading in place of the unwell Charith Asalanka, said his side has also made four changes.
Babar Azam’s drought-breaking hundred powered a dominant eight-wicket win over Sri Lanka in the second ODI on Friday.
Set to chase 289, Pakistan comfortably chased down the target for the loss of just two wickets and 10 balls to spare.
The Green Shirts got off to a dominant start to the pursuit as their opening pair of Fakhar Zaman and Saim Ayub put together a brisk partnership, scoring 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 retaining Pakistan\“s momentum by knitting a 100-run stand, which eventually culminated with the opening batter\“s dismissal by 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 firm and ended his two-year international century drought before leading Pakistan to the series-clinching victory when he hit the winning runs on the second delivery of the penultimate over.
The right-handed batter top-scored for Pakistan with an unbeaten 102 off 119 deliveries, studded with eight fours.
He shared an unbeaten 112-run partnership with wicketkeeper batter Mohammad Rizwan, who scored 51 not out from 54 balls, hitting five fours and a six.
Chameera remained the solitary wicket-taker for the touring side, making two scalps for 58 runs in 10 overs.
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