Pakistan and Sri Lanka are gearing up to face each other in the 6th and final league encounter match on Thursday at Rawalpindi. Zimbabwe have already wrapped up their group-stage journey. What remains is the hardest part, which is waiting. They now sit in the waiting room. They’ve done all they can, and now fate is no longer in their hands.
Their hopes hinge entirely on the performance of Sri Lanka, the very side they toppled earlier in the tournament. Unbeaten Pakistan, on the other hand, have already secured their place in the final. Now, with the final looming, Pakistan will be looking to maintain their rhythm.
For Sri Lanka, the equation is clear. Their fate is aligned directly against Zimbabwe’s hope. A victory for Sri Lanka eliminates Zimbabwe. Meanwhile, a slip-up gifts the Zimbabwe a ticket to the final due to a superior net run rate. Sri Lanka come into this game after steamrolling Zimbabwe by nine wickets, with Pathum Nissanka belting a heroic knock of 98 unbeaten.
Head-to-head
Matches - 25
PAK won - 15
SL won - 10
Pakistan probable XI: Saim Ayub, Sahibzada Farhan, Babar Azam, Salman Ali Agha (c), Usman Khan (wk), Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Naseem Shah, Usman Tariq
Sri Lanka probable XI: Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara, Kusal Mendis (wk), Kusal Perera, Janith Liyanage, Dasun Shanaka (c), Pavan Rathnayake, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dushmantha Chameera, Maheesh Theekshana, Eshan Malinga