Karachi ODI: Pakistan win toss, opt to bat first against Sri Lanka

The second ODI, which was scheduled to be played on Sunday, was postponed to Monday

Karachi ODI: Pakistan win toss, opt to bat first against Sri Lanka Pakistan captain Sarfaraz Ahmed and Sri Lanka captain Lahiru Thirimanne pose with the trophy before the ODI series | AP

Pakistan captain Sarfaraz Ahmed won the toss and chose to bat first against a depleted Sri Lanka in the second ODI match in Karachi on Monday.

The first ODI in Karachi on Friday was washed out without a single ball bowled. It was to be the first match to be played at National Stadium since 2009. The second match, which was scheduled to be played on September 29, Sunday, was postponed due to heavy rains that washed out the first match. 

Several regular players of the Sri Lankan team pulled out of the tour citing security reasons. Lahiru Thirimanne will captain the Sri Lanka side following skipper Dimuth Karunaratne's withdrawal. Thirimanne, however, has expressed that this is a good opportunity for youngsters in the absence of senior players.

Cricket teams have not visited Pakistan since the militant attack on the Sri Lankan team bus in Lahore 10 years ago. Several players were injured and eight others were killed in the attack.

Teams:

Sri Lanka: Avishka Fernando, Oshada Fernando, Lahiru Thirimanne (captain), Sadeera Samarawickrama (wk), Danushka Gunathilaka, Shehan Jayasuriya, Dasun Shanaka, Isuru Udana, W. Hasaranga, N. Pradeep, Lahiru Kumara

Pakistan: Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam, Haris Sohail, Sarfraz Ahmed (captain & wk), Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Shadab Khan, Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Amir, Usman Shinwari