Weather shines bright as Pakistan eagerly wait for the home season to begin
Overview:
Pakistan v Sri Lanka, 2nd ODI
National Stadium, Karachi
Monday, 30 September, 3:00pm local, 10:00am GMT
The series has now virtually become a two-game affair, after the persistent rains had forced the first ODI to be called off on Friday, 27 September, further prompting the second game to be pushed forward by a day.
Pakistan will aim to put forward a complete performance in front of the home crowd, who'll be eager to witness a One Day International after more than four-years. While the experience of seasoned campaigners like skipper Sarfaraz Ahmed, Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman and fast bowlers Mohammad Amir and Wahab Riaz makes hosts appear as a superior side of the two, focus will also be on Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Rizwan and Mohammad Nawaz, who are making comebacks into the national team.
The second ODI between Pakistan and Sri Lanka at Karachi has been rescheduled from Sunday 29 September to Monday 30 September due to the rain which washed out the first ODI.
— ICC (@ICC) September 28, 2019
Have you ever heard of rain so heavy it washes out a game two days away?!https://t.co/ZTIhgcJc1O
As for Sri Lanka, complete all-round performances helped them whitewash Bangladesh 3-0 at home, but the absence of their senior players and their recent record against the hosts, wherein they've lost each of the last six completed games, means that an uphill task lies ahead. Skipper Lahiru Thirimanne will look to inspire his team as a batsman and as a leader, to help his side register its first win against Pakistan after more than four years.
Remember the last time:
Much like the first ODI, the World Cup fixture between the two sides too, had been washed out due to rain. Their last completed game came in October 2017, the final ODI of the five-match series in UAE, wherein Usman Shinwari's 5/34 restricted Sri Lanka to 103 in the 27th over, setting up a comfortable nine-wicket victory and with it, a 5-0 series whitewash for the Sarfaraz Ahmed led side.
The first ODI between Pakistan and Sri Lanka at Karachi has been abandoned due to rain 😞
— ICC (@ICC) September 27, 2019
It's the first time an ODI has ever been washed out at the venue. As you can see, it was a bit wet...#PAKvSL pic.twitter.com/mWGYrAzL3x
What they said:
Sarfaraz Ahmed, Pakistan captain:"If you review the performance of the team during the past two and a half years, it has improved tremendously. We scored 300 runs during the World Cup; we have scored 350 and even touched 370. Our cricket is improving and we are trying to go ahead with this team."
Lahiru Thirimanne, Sri Lanka captain:"We have a lot of youngsters. Most of them are under 25, they have played a lot of domestic cricket and they have represented Sri Lanka earlier. They do not have any pressure, they are fresh. We have a good chance if we play to our potential."
Conditions:
Sunny intervals and moderate breeze is expected throughout the day, which suggest high possibility of a full 100-over contest. Teams chasing have won four of the last six completed ODIs at the National Stadium.