Last Updated on 5 years by Charbel Coorey
Pakistan vs Sri Lanka 1st T20I Preview Dream11 Prediction. PAK vs SL 1st T20I Preview Dream11 Prediction
If Sri Lanka thought the ODIs would be tough given the experience on the sidelines, the T20Is promise to be another hell of a test.
After all, Pakistan are ranked first in T20I cricket. Until February 2018, they had enjoyed a run of 11 straight series victories in the format. They rightly take plenty of pride in their recent fortunes, and off the back of a string of ODI wins, they will be raring to go once again in front of their home fans.
For Sri Lanka, touring Pakistan has meant more than giving their opponents hope for their cricketing future in their home nation. It has also given a number of their own to express themselves. With the likes of Danushka Gunathilaka, Shehan Jayasuriya and Dasun Shanaka giving fans reason to smile in the ODI series, the door is open once again for those usually on the fringes to make a mark with the World T20 a year away.
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Key to a Pakistan win
So much of Pakistan’s excellent run in T20Is has been off the back of Babar Azam. The classy right hander enjoys a near-identical T20I average to that in ODIs (54.21 vs 54.17), which undoubtedly will put much of the attention on him as always. However, runs for Fakhar Zaman in the ODIs is as much a relief for he as it is for Pakistan, and he is a player that can take the game away from the Sri Lankans early. With the likes of Haris Sohail and Asif Ali in the middle, Pakistan will be after the complete performance.
Also, Pakistan’s often miserly bowling attack has been a key factor in its T20I fortunes. They have often mastered the conditions faced in the UAE, which puts onus on both spinners and seamers to do the same in Lahore. Can the left-armers push Sri Lanka back in the powerplay and death overs? How will the likes of Shadab Khan go in the middle overs? Like the bat, Pakistan will want to dominate with the ball, and that begins with stifling Sri Lanka of quick runs in the early overs.
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Key to a Sri Lanka win
Danushka Gunathilaka showed why Sri Lanka have persisted with him. His swashbuckling innings in the final ODI is the kind of impact his side needs, given the inexperience in Sri Lanka’s squad. Such is the inexperience that Avishka Fernando must deliver more than he did in his poor ODI series. Can he and the likes of Minod Bhanuka and Sadeera Samarawickrama leave Pakistan having given Sri Lanka’s selectors no choice but to consider them for Australia? Importantly, can Dasun Shanaka continue on from his showing in the ODIs?
Also, Lasith Malinga, chief destroyer in Sri Lanka’s last T20I, is unavailable. So, who steps up in his absence? Nuwan Pradeep and Lahiru Kamara can be effective on their respective days, but will this be one of them? The impact they have, along with the effectiveness of Isuru Udana’s variations, holds a significant key to a Sri Lankan win here. Indeed, if Lakshan Sandakan, Shehan Jayasuriya and co can exercise control in the spin department, it might just give the Sri Lankans a confidence boost.
Possible Playing 11
Pakistan: 1. Babar Azam, 2. Fakhar Zaman, 3 . Haris Sohail, 4. Asif Ali, 5. Sarfaraz Ahmed (c & wk), 6. Iftikhar Ahmed, 7. Imad Wasim/Mohammad Nawaz, 8. Shadab Khan, 9. Mohammad Amir, 10. Usman Khan Shinwari, 11. Wahab Riaz/Mohammad Hasnain
Sri Lanka: 1. Danushka Gunathilaka, 2. Avishka Fernando, 3. Sadeera Samarawickrama, 4. Minod Bhanuka (wk), 5. Shehan Jayasuriya, 6. Wanindu Hasaranga, 7. Dasun Shanaka (c), 8. Isuru Udana, 9. Kasun Rajitha/Nuwan Pradeep, 10. Lakshan Sandakan, 11. Lahiru Kamara
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Pitch and Conditions
No rain is predicted for this match in Lahore. The average first innings score in T20Is in Lahore is 174. A good batting track is expected.
Stats and Facts
- Pakistan have won their past six T20Is against Sri Lanka.
- Sri Lanka have lost 13 of 18 T20Is against Pakistan in total.
- Record of chasing teams in T20Is in Lahore: Won: 3, lost: 3.
- Babar Azam averages 54 in T20Is in 2019, in line with his career average.
- Pakistan have lost three of their past four T20Is after 11 straight series wins. Sri Lanka’s win over New Zealand last month ended their own bad run of seven straight losses.
Dream11 Prediction
Also read: Dream11 vs MyTeam11: Which is better for you?
Option 2:
Match Prediction
A depleted Sri Lanka had their moments in the ODI series. However, like the ODIs, Pakistan should have enough to get them over the line.
Thanks for reading!
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