Pakistan have made 5 changes to their playing XI for today’s Asia Cup 2023 match against the Sri Lankan cricket team. It is the final match in the Super Fours round for both Pakistan and Sri Lanka, and it is a do-or-die encounter as well.
It looks like Pakistan have pressed the panic button after the 228-run defeat against India as they have made 5 changes to their team from the last match. The Men in Green were forced to make two changes as their fast bowlers Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf were ruled out of Asia Cup 2023 with injuries during the match against India on Sunday and Monday.
Zaman Khan and Shahnawaz Dahani have joined the Pakistan team as replacements for Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf. Khan is making his ODI debut, having played his last List-A match back in March 2022. Mohammad Wasim has come in for Rauf.
Pakistan made 5 changes today – 2 forced and 3 were due to poor form of players
The aforementioned two changes were due to injuries, but the other three alterations to the playing XI were because of poor performance of players. Fakhar Zaman, who struggled to score big in Asia Cup 2023, has lost his place in the playing XI to Mohammad Haris. If Haris impresses, he can even open for Pakistan in the ICC ODI World Cup 2023.
Elsewhere, middle-order batter Agha Salman has been dropped from the team. Salman has lost his place to Saud Shakeel. The fifth change made by Pakistan is Mohammad Nawaz coming in for fast bowler Faheem Ashraf. It seems like Pakistan want a spin-bowling option instead of an extra pacer.
Pakistan Playing 11 for match against SL: Mohammad Haris, Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Saud Shakeel, Iftikhar Ahmed, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Shaheen Afridi, Mohammad Wasim and Zaman Khan.
