Dambulla: Pakistan men’s cricket team’s training session scheduled ahead of the first T20I of the three-match series against Sri Lanka at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium on Tuesday was abandoned due to rain.
The omission means the Green Shirts, who assembled in Sri Lanka on Monday, will enter the series opener without taking part in a training session in the country.
Meanwhile, as the weather in Tambullai remains gloomy, there is a risk that the match scheduled to be held at the said stadium next Wednesday will also be interrupted by rain.
Also, the place where Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha and his Sri Lankan captain Dasun Shanaka were spotted posing on the roof of the bowl earlier today was completely covered.
The remaining two matches of the crucial series are scheduled to be played at the same venue on January 9 and 11 respectively and may also face rain interruption.
The upcoming series serves as a launching pad for both sides in the build-up to the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, scheduled to be held in India and Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 8.
Pakistan and Sri Lanka enter the series with a different momentum as the green shirts are fresh from their home T20I tri-series against Zimbabwe and the 2014 champions.
Historically, the two teams have faced each other in 27 T20I matches, of which Pakistan have won 16 and Sri Lanka 11.
groups
Pakistan: Salman Ali Agha (c), Abdul Samad, Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Faqar Zaman, Khawaja Nafe (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan (wk), Saim Ayub, Uz Khan, Uqman Khan and Uqman.
Sri Lanka: Dasun Shanaka (catch), Pathum Nissanga, Kamil Mishara, Kusal Mendis, Kusal Perera, Dhananjaya de Silva, Sarith Asalanga, Janith Lienake, Kamindu Mendis, Vanindu Hasaranga, Dunit Vellalake, Mahish Dikshana, Dushana Hemantha, Dusnan Samantha, Traman Samantha, Traman Samantha, Nuwan Tushara and Eshaan Malinga.
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