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Sri Lanka wins toss and fielding first against Pakistan in 1st ODI

Sri Lanka wins toss and fielding first against Pakistan in 1st ODI | iNFOnews.ca
Pakistan's Shaheen Shah Afridi, left, flips the coin for toss as Sri Lanka's Charith Asalanka watches before start of the first one day international cricket match between Pakistan and Sri Lanka, in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)

RAWALPINDI, Pakistan (AP) — Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to field against Pakistan in their one-day international on Tuesday.

Captain Charith Asalanka said he expected dew later in the night at Pindi Cricket Stadium and was encouraged to bowl first.

Ace leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga has returned to the ODI format and a debut was handed to 24-year-old left-handed opener Kamil Mishara.

Pakistan made one forced change from the team which won the third and decisive ODI against South Africa last Saturday. Leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed, who bagged a career-best 4-27 on Saturday, was unwell and replaced by fast bowler Naseem Shah.

In the absence of specialist spinner Abrar, Pakistan will bank on spin all-rounders Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha and Mohammad Nawaz.

Rawalpindi will host all the three ODIs in the series this week before Zimbabwe joins Pakistan and Sri Lanka for a Twenty20 tri-series.

Pakistan, led by new ODI captain Shaheen Shah Afridi, turned around its below-par performances in 2025 by beating a depleted South Africa 2-1 last week.

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Lineups:

Pakistan: Fakhar Zaman, Saim Ayub, Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Salman Ali Agha, Hussain Talat, Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Shah Afridi (captain), Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah.

Sri Lanka: Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara, Kusal Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka (captain), Janith Liyanage, Kamindu Mendis, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dushmantha Chameera, Maheesh Theekshana, Asitha Fernando.

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AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket

Sri Lanka wins toss and fielding first against Pakistan in 1st ODI | iNFOnews.ca
Sri Lanka’s ODI team skipper Charith Asalanka, center back, and teammates warm up before start of the first one day international cricket match between Pakistan and Sri Lanka, in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)
Sri Lanka wins toss and fielding first against Pakistan in 1st ODI | iNFOnews.ca
Pakistan’s ODI team skipper Shaheen Shah Afridi warm up before start of the first one day international cricket match between Pakistan and Sri Lanka, in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)

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