Pakistan vs Sri Lanka: Odds in Pak's favour as key SL players back out

Pakistan and Sri Lanka will play the first match of the three-match ODI series that begins on Friday. This is the first international match that is taking place at Karachi in the last decade. A total of 10 Sri Lanka players, including big names like ODI captain Dimuth Karunaratne and T20I captain Lasith Malinga, have pulled out of the tournament citing security concerns. As a result, the Sri Lankan team is pretty inexperienced in nature.

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The Squads

Pakistan: Babar Azam, Abid Ali, Asif Ali, Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Haris Sohail, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Nawaz, Shadab Khan, Sarfaraz Ahmed (C), Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Amir, Usman Shinwari, and Wahab Riaz. 

Sri Lanka: Lahiru Thirimanne (C), Avishka Fernando, Oshada Fernando, Danushka Gunathilaka, Shehan Jayasuriya, Dasun Shanaka, Angelo Perera, Isuru Udana, Sadeera Samawickrama, Minod Bhanuka, Wanidu Hasaranga, Lakshan Sandakan, Nuwan Pradeep, Kasun Rajitha, Lahiru Kumara. 

The players who pulled out citing Security Concerns include Dimuth Karunaratne, Niroshan Dickwella, Kusal Perera, Thisara Perera, Lasith Malinga, and Dinesh Chandimal.

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There is a lot going in favour of the Pakistan team. Starting at the obvious home advantage, the Pakistan team knows their home ground inside-out. No team has played at this venue for 10 years and this could add to Pakistan's advantage as they will know any changes the in the nature of the pitch. Pakistan also have their squad intact in full capacity which is something the Sri Lankans can not brag about.

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Sri Lanka have had a tough time in international cricket for some time now. The players have not been able to settle into the squad and the team, in general, has failed. Their World Cup campaign was a disaster although they tried redeeming themselves against Bangladesh with the 3-0 win they got over them. The fact that their regular captains and other experienced players have stepped away from this tour leaves the side more vulnerable. But as is the nature of cricket, you never know which side may pull off a spectacular upset.

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