Share

Pakistan ask SL to bat in Champions Trophy decider

accreditation
Sarfraz Ahmed (Getty)
Sarfraz Ahmed (Getty)

Cardiff - Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed won the toss and elected to field against Sri Lanka in a must-win Champions Trophy Group B match for both sides at Cardiff on Monday. 

This game had become a virtual quarter-final, with the winners joining already qualified title-holders India out of Group B in the last four of a tournament featuring the world's top eight one-day international sides and the losers knocked out. 

An overcast morning and a green tinged-pitch offer the promise of assistance for Pakistan's pacemen, although the ball has not generally swung early on during matches in this tournament.

Both teams made one change from their previous games. 

Dhananjaya de Silva came straight into the Sri Lanka side after being called up as a replacement for Kusal Perera, who suffered a tournament-ending hamstring injury while batting in a shock win over India at the Oval on Thursday. 

Meanwhile Pakistan opted to play an extra seamer in Fahim Ashraf instead of leg-spinner Shadab Khan in the only change to the side that beat South Africa by 19 runs in a rain-affected clash at Edgbaston last Wednesday. 

Whichever side won this match was, barring an extraordinarily lopsided result, likely to face England in a semi-final in Cardiff on Wednesday.

Teams:

Pakistan

Azhar Ali, Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, Mohammad Hafeez, Shoaib Malik, Sarfraz Ahmed (captain/wkt), Imad Wasim, Fahim Ashraf, Mohammad Amir, Hasan Ali, Junaid Khan

Sri Lanka

Niroshan Dickwella (wkt), Danushka Gunathilaka, Kusal Mendis, Dinesh Chandimal, Angelo Mathews (captain), Asela Gunaratne, Dhananjaya de Silva, Thisara Perera, Suranga Lakmal, Lasith Malinga, Nuwan Pradeep

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Voting Booth
Should Siya Kolisi keep the captaincy as the Springboks build towards their World Cup title defence in 2027?
Please select an option Oops! Something went wrong, please try again later.
Results
Yes! Siya will only be 36 at the next World Cup. He can make it!
25% - 1273 votes
No! I think the smart thing to do is start again with a younger skipper ...
29% - 1472 votes
I'd keep Siya captain for now, but look to have someone else for 2027.
45% - 2250 votes
Vote
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE