- Pakistan made four changes for dead rubber.
- Shaheen Shah Afridi is back playing in the XI.
- Pakistan already sealed the ODI series 2-0.
Pakistan won the toss and decided to play Sri Lanka first in the third and final ODI played at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Sunday.
Shaheen Shah Afridi, who returned to the playing XI after rest, said the decision to bowl first is based on the surface and conditions of the match. He said Pakistan has made four changes for dead rubber.
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka stand-in captain Kusal Mendis, leading in place of the ailing Charith Asalanka, said his team has also made four changes.
Pakistan, who have already sealed the series 2-0 with back-to-back wins, will be looking for a clean sweep and their second ODI series win at home.
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka will look to end the series on a positive note after losing the first two matches in Rawalpindi.
In the second ODI, star batsman Babar Azam marked the end of his long century drought with a dominant ton that took Pakistan to a dominant eight-wicket victory over Sri Lanka.
Set to chase 289, Pakistan comfortably chased down the target for the loss of just two wickets and 10 balls to spare.
The Green Shirts made a dominant start to the chase as their opening pair of Fakhar Zaman and Saim Ayub formed a spirited partnership, scoring 77 runs in just 9.3 overs before the latter fell victim to Dushmantha Chameera.
Saim scored 33 off 25 deliveries, smashing five fours and a six.
Coming out to bat at number 3, Babar joined Fakhar in the middle, and the experienced duo ensured to retain Pakistan’s momentum by weaving a 100-run stand, which eventually culminated in Chameera being dismissed by the first batsman in the 31st over.
Fakhar scored 78 off 93 deliveries with the help of eight fours and a six.
Babar Azam, on the other hand, stood tall and ended his two-year international drought before leading Pakistan to a series-clinching victory when he hit the winning runs in the second delivery of the penultimate over.
