PAK VS SL FINAL

Pakistan (Playing XI) - Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Babar Azam, Salman Agha (C), Fakhar Zaman, Usman Khan (WK), Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Afridi (In place of Mohammad Wasim), Salman Mirza, Abrar Ahmed.

TOSS - The coin lands in favour of Salman Agha, and Pakistan have elected to BOWL first.

A special word as well for the Sri Lanka cricket team, who have chosen to donate all the money earned from this Tri-Nation Series to support the victims of the devastating floods and landslides back home. It’s a gesture that goes well beyond the game, showing heart, unity, and responsibility in a time of need. Cricket may be the contest tonight, but compassion is the real winner here.

Interesting stat to note - Fakhar Zaman has a terrific record in T20I finals, averaging 41 at a strike rate close to 152. That said, there’s a contrasting memory against Sri Lanka, as in the only T20I final he has played against them, during the 2022 Asia Cup, he was dismissed for a golden duck. Cricket does love a storyline! 

Sri Lanka, meanwhile, will draw confidence from their last league meeting where they had to bring Pakistan down and held their nerve in a tense finish, with Dushmantha Chameera delivering a sensational four-wicket haul. He’s had good support from Kamil Mishara and Kusal Mendis, who have been among the runs throughout the series. Add to that the class of Pathum Nissanka, the power of Dasun Shanaka, and the all-round brilliance of Wanindu Hasaranga, and the visitors will feel they have what it takes to outplay the hosts once again. Toss and team news coming up shortly.

Both sides have already beaten each other once in the league stage, which makes this final the perfect decider. Pakistan will once again bank on their aggressive batting, with Sahibzada Farhan leading the charge after being the highest run-getter of the series so far. Much will also rest on the shoulders of Babar Azam and Salman Agha to anchor the innings, while Mohammad Nawaz’s late-order hitting could prove vital. Despite having Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah in the squad, they have given more game time to Salman Mirza and Mohammad Wasim, who have lacked consistency, and it is the spin department, led superbly by Abrar Ahmed, that has arguably made the biggest impact in the tournament. After suffering their only loss of the series, Pakistan will be eager to respond in the best possible way and finish with the trophy in hand.

Hello and welcome, cricket fans, to the thrilling finale of the Tri-Nation Series 2025 as Pakistan take on Sri Lanka in a winner-takes-all encounter. After a hard-fought tournament, both sides have battled their way through to the last match, and now everything comes down to this one game. Stakes are sky-high, the pressure is immense, and every run, every ball, every over will count as both teams aim to lift the trophy.

... MATCH DAY ...

We have reached the climax of the T20I Tri-Series in Pakistan, 2025, where hosts Pakistan face their Asian rivals Sri Lanka in the final at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. Pakistan were the first side to seal their place in the final after winning three matches on the trot, although they enter the summit clash on the back of a defeat to Sri Lanka in their last round-robin fixture. Despite the loss, Pakistan would have been encouraged by their skipper, Salman Agha, finally finding some runs after a quiet campaign. Sahibzada Farhan has looked assured with a pair of half-centuries, and although Babar Azam and Agha have fifties to their name, the rest of the batting lineup is yet to produce a substantial score. The hosts will be particularly keen for Saim Ayub to convert his starts into something meaningful, as that has been the missing piece in his campaign so far. The decision to play Fakhar Zaman outside the top four has also raised eyebrows, as that has left him with limited opportunities. On the bowling front, Pakistan have been without Shaheen Afridi for most of the round robin stage due to a foot injury, and his availability for the final remains uncertain. Mohammad Nawaz has been the standout performer with both control and wicket-taking ability, while Abrar Ahmed has played his part effectively. Usman Tariq, who impressed with a four-wicket haul in his only appearance, missed the previous game but may come back into contention for the final. Among the pacers, Salman Mirza has kept things tight without much reward, and Mohammad Wasim is still searching for the impact Pakistan would expect from him. Sri Lanka, meanwhile, have taken a contrasting route to the final. Their campaign began with back-to-back defeats, including a shock loss to Zimbabwe, but Dasun Shanaka’s side responded superbly. They will enter the final full of belief after successfully defending 184 against Pakistan. That win was driven by Dushmantha Chameera, who delivered with the new ball and then again at the death. Sri Lanka’s early defeats stemmed from a misfiring batting unit, and while there has been improvement, they still haven’t fired collectively. There is no better stage than a final for that to change. Pathum Nissanka, who has long carried their batting in the format, has had a quiet tournament apart from his unbeaten 98. His opening partner, Kamil Mishara, found form just in time, scoring a crucial 76 in the previous game with a spot in the final on the line. For Sri Lanka to truly challenge Pakistan’s strong bowling attack, the senior trio of Kusal Mendis, Kusal Perera, and Dasun Shanaka will need to stand up. With the ball, Chameera has led the pace attack brilliantly, while Wanindu Hasaranga continues to be the standout in the spin department. However, Eshan Malinga was expensive at the death in the last outing and will be keen to put in a stronger performance in the final. Both sides arrive at the final with different stories but similar ambitions. Pakistan, dominant for most of the round robin stage, will look to deliver a complete performance in front of their home crowd. Sri Lanka, rejuvenated after a shaky start, will hope their momentum carries them to one more decisive display. Everything points towards a high-intensity contest in Rawalpindi as the two Asian rivals battle for the T20I Tri-Series crown. Who are you backing to come out on top?