Pakistan takes a 1-0 lead against Sri Lanka in the Rawalpindi T20 match under Sahibzada Farhan's leadership.
Sahibzada Farhan made a brilliant start as Pakistan's new T20 captain; he scored 89 runs, helping Pakistan secure a 1-0 lead over Sri Lanka in the first match of the three-game series played at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.
A new captain and two new players
Pakistan appointed Farhan as the T20 team captain, replacing Salman Ali Agha. Farhan—Pakistan's fourth T20 captain in the last two and a half years—had previously led Pakistan's 'second-string' (reserve) team at the Asian Games in Japan, where they suffered a defeat against India in the final.
Pakistan included two players in the T20 squad for the first time: fast bowler Razaullah and medium-pacer Muhammad Imran Randhawa. Razaullah had previously delivered an impressive performance during his Test debut against England at Edgbaston, scoring 81 runs and taking four wickets.
Toss and team news
Sri Lanka won the toss and decided to bat first. Captain Kusal Mendis stated that he wanted to set a target for Pakistan—the same strategy Sri Lanka employed when they defeated Pakistan in 2019. Wanindu Hasaranga, who was named 'Player of the Series' during that 2019 victory, is not part of the team due to injury.
Mendis remarked that the young players have earned his confidence. He said, "New players are performing very well in domestic cricket."
Farhan stated that he, too, had wanted to bowl first in order to assess the conditions (pitch and weather).
Pakistan: Sahibzada Farhan (captain), Fakhar Zaman, Maaz Sadaqat, Hassan Nawaz, Saim Ayub, Shadab Khan, Khawaja Nafay (wicketkeeper), Mohammad Imran, Razaullah, Naseem Shah, Abrar Ahmed.
Sri Lanka: Kusal Mendis (captain and wicketkeeper), Lahiru Udara, Kamil Mishara, Kamindu Mendis, Sahan Arachchige, Dasun Shanaka, Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Dushmantha Chameera, Ishan Malinga, Nuwan Thushara.
Farhan's first match as captain and a 1-0 lead
Farhan's innings of 89 runs helped Pakistan surpass Sri Lanka's target and secure a 1-0 lead in the series. It was a match-winning innings in his very first game as captain.
What's next
The second and third T20 matches will be played in Rawalpindi on October 11 and 13, respectively. Following this, the teams will participate in a seven-match tri-nation ODI series alongside England. Matches between Pakistan and Sri Lanka are scheduled for October 18 in Rawalpindi and October 27 at Lahore's Gaddafi Stadium.
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