Shahid Afridi Pakistan
Shahid Afridi [Reuters]

Pakistan take on Sri Lanka in the first of the five One Day International (ODI) matches at Sharjah Cricket Stadiumin in the United Arab Emirates.

Where to Watch Live

The play is scheduled to start at 11:00 am GMT. The Live coverage of the game will be available in the UK on Zee Cinema. Follow live text commentary of the game on ESPN Cricinfo.

Overview

Sri Lanka maintained their position as the number one team in the ICC T20 rankings with a 1-1 draw in the two T20 matches played against Pakistan. The runners-up of the 2012 T20 World Cup have made significant progress in this competition beating New Zealand in the T20 internationals and drawing the ODI series. Angelo Mathews and Dinesh Chandimal helped their team to convincingly beat South Africa 4-1 in the ODI series played in July.

Meanwhile, Pakistan look to bounce back from the upset in the second T20 match against Sri Lanka and inconsistent displays against South Africa in their recent clashes. Skipper Misbah-ul-Haq will be hoping for his team to curtail the Sri Lankan attack and will also look to draw confidence from the ODI victory against the Proteas in their own backyard.

With the T20 World Cup approaching in March next year and the ICC Cricket World Cup not due until 2015, both teams will be hoping to improve their ODI rankings. Pakistan, on the other hand, will be looking to offset their off-field controversies and focus on the game and reinstate themselves among the elites of the sport.

Team Form

(ODI's only)

Pakistan

  • · Last Five (most recent first): L W W L L
  • · Last Result: Pakistan lost to South Africa by four wickets

Sri Lanka

  • · Last Five (most recent first): W L D W W
  • · Last Result: Sri Lanka beat New Zealand by 36 runs

Team Guide

Pakistan

Probable Line-Up: Umar Amin, Ahmed Shehzad, Shahid Afridi, Asad Shafiq, Umar Akmal (wk), Misbah-ul-Haq (c), Bilawal Bhatti, Anwar Ali, Abdur Rehman, Sohail Tanvir, Saeed Ajmal

Sri Lanka

Probable Line-Up: Dimuth Karunaratne, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Kumar Sangakkara (wk), Lahiru Thirimanne, Angelo Mathews(c), Dinesh Chandimal, Thisara Perera, Nuwan Kulasekara, Sachithra Senanayake, Ajantha Mendis, Lasith Malinga

Pakistan