Pakistan will take on Sri Lanka in their second match of the ongoing World Cup 2023 at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad on Tuesday. The Men in Green got off to a winning start as defeated the Netherlands by 81 runs at the same venue.

In fact, Pakistan didn’t get off to a great start with the bat as they lost three early wickets but Mohammad Rizwan and Saud Shakeel scored fine knocks of 68 runs each. Shakeel was able to hit the ground running and shifted the pressure back onto the opposition with his fine knock.

Furthermore, Pakistan’s fast bowling once again proved its mettle with Haris Rauf taking three wickets whereas Hasan Ali, added in place of injured Naseem Shah, took two scalps in his fine spell.

On the other hand, Sri Lanka played a run-fest against South Africa. The Dasun Shanaka-led team was not up to the mark with the ball and it led to their downfall as they conceded a mammoth total of 428 runs. Barring Dasun Shanaka, all the Sri Lankan bowlers took a beating against South Africa.

However, Kusal Mendis, Charith Asalanka, and Dasun Shanaka all scored blistering half-centuries against the Proteas and it was a positive for Sri Lanka.

When these two teams met recently in the Asia Cup, Sri Lanka had won a thrilling contest against Pakistan.

Match Prediction: Pakistan might enter the contest as slight favorites against Sri Lanka.

Pakistan squad: Babar Azam (c), Shadab Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Abdullah Shafique, Mohammad Rizwan, Saud Shakeel, Iftikhar Ahmed, Salman Ali Agha, Mohammad Nawaz, Usama Mir, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Afridi, Mohammad Wasim.

Sri Lanka Squad: Dasun Shanaka (c), Kusal Mendis (vc), Kusal Perera, Pathum Nissanka, Dimuth Karunaratne, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dushan Hemantha, Maheesh Theekshana, Dunith Wellalage, Kasun Rajitha, Matheesha Pathirana, Lahiru Kumara, Dilshan Madushanka

Travelling reserve: Chamika Karunaratne