Both teams now include a number of young faces, following the retirement of legends, so the remaining seniors will have to lead the way.
Match: Sri Lanka v Pakistan
Group: Group B
Date: Monday, June 12
Venue: The Oval, London
Head2Head in ODIs:
Pakistan leads the overall head-to-head tally 84 to 58, having played 147 matches against Sri Lanka. Although its record is much better at home, and in the UAE, it isn’t too far behind in Sri Lanka (18-20).
Greatest ODI encounter:
In recent times, the biggest match Sri Lanka and Pakistan played against each other was the 2014 Asia Cup final.
After losing three early wickets for just 18 runs, Misbah-ul-Haq (65) and Fawad Alam (114 not out) rescued Pakistan before Umar Akmal’s quick 59 powered it to a respectable total of 260 runs.
But Sri Lanka was strong with its reply, as Lahiru Thirimanne (101) and Mahela Jayawardene (75) were involved in a 156-run third-wicket stand.
Despite the late wickets from Saeed Ajmal, Thirimanne and Jayawardene’s partnership took Sri Lanka to the brink before Angelo Mathews and Chaturanga de Silva completed the honors to help it lift the Asia Cup with a comfortable five-wicket win.
Previous Champions Trophy encounters:
Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur, October 17, 2006
Pakistan won by four wickets
PoM: Abdul Razzaq
After Abdul Razzaq’s four wickets, Sri Lanka was bowled out for 253 runs in 49.2 overs. During the chase, Sri Lanka picked up wickets at regular intervals, but couldn’t stop Pakistan from overcoming its efforts to win by four wickets courtesy good knocks from Imran Farhat (53), Mohammad Yousuf (49) and Shoaib Malik (49).
R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo, September 12, 2002
Sri Lanka won by eight wickets
PoM: Sanath Jayasuriya
Dilhara Fernando (3-30) and Muttiah Muralitharan (3-29) helped bowl out Pakistan for 200 in 49.4 overs before Sanath Jayasuriya (102*) and Aravinda de Silva (66*) completed the chase in 36.1 overs.
Gymkhana Club Ground, Nairobi, October 8, 2000
Pakistan won by nine wickets
PoM: Saeed Anwar
Wasim Akram (3-40), Azhar Mahmood (3-52) and Saqlain Mushtaq (2-30) didn’t allow the Sri Lankan batsmen to settle, bowling the side out for 194 in 45.4 overs. Saeed Anwar (105*) brought up a century and chased down the target with a little help from Imran Nazir (40) and Yousuf Youhana (42*).
Key players for each side:
With so many changes in the Pakistan batting line-up over the past few years, the one batsman who has remained stable has been Shoaib Malik. A technically sound batsman who can take the attack to the opposition whenever it is needed, Malik is a potential match-winner against any team. Pakistan will need him to fire quick runs, and bat for a prolonged period if its batting issues are to be resolved.
Experience and seniority puts a lot of pressure on any player. Someone who has handled this pressure and has also made good runs in the past year has been Dinesh Chandimal. Among all the new cricketers in the modern Sri Lankan team, Chandimal has emerged as one of the most reliable batsmen. He has rescued the team from various collapses, and has also got the ability to accelerate and switch gears at any point.
Key facts:
- Pakistan has won two games out of the three played against Sri Lanka at previous Champions Trophies.
- Azhar Ali averages 48.22 against Sri Lanka, but with a strike rate of only 75.87.
- Sri Lanka has lost all the three games it played against Pakistan in England.
Best at Champions Trophy:
Sri Lanka Joint-winners 2002
Pakistan Semi-finalists 2000, 2004, 2009
Pakistan play Sri Lanka in Group B of ICC Champions Trophy 2017 on Sunday, June 12 at the Cardiff Wales Stadium. Tickets for the match will go back on sale on 27 October via www.icc-cricket.com/tickets.