After giving the perfect send-off to Mahela Jayawardene in terms of Test cricket, one of their greatest cricketing sons and Sri Lanka will look to continue their dominance over Pakistan when the one-day international series kicks off with the 1st ODI in Hambantota on Saturday.
Where to Watch Live
The ODI match is set for a 10 am local time (10 am IST, 9.30 am PST) start with live TV coverage on Ten Cricket and Ten HD in India and Ten Sports in Pakistan. Watch the match via live streaming HERE.
Audience in Sri Lanka can catch the match on CSN or by live stream HERE. Viewers in the US can watch the game live on Willow TV while the match can also be live streamed HERE. Watch the match in South Africa and Sub Saharan Africa on SuperSport and live online HERE.
Jayawardene and Sri Lanka won the Test series comfortably, but with the World Cup looming large, there will be plenty of importance placed for this ODI series as well.
"I'll try and use these remaining one-dayers to try and build up my team for the World Cup," said Mathew, whose side will play around 17 matches before the big tournament kicks off in six months time in Australia and New Zealand. "I won't be reluctant to make any changes.
"I won't be reluctant to experiment things in these ODIs. I'll try and keep it simple, but all in all I'll try to look at a good 15 for the World Cup. I'll try and give opportunities to the players we need to look at. But we need to play to win as well. It's going to be a tough ask, but we'll try and experiment a few things."
The last time Pakistan played a one-dayer was way back in March, when they were beaten in the Asia Cup final in Bangladesh by a rampant Sri Lanka. So, there will be rustiness aplenty in this Pakistan side, which was pretty evident in the five-day games as well.
"We have got a specialist one-day side and that will mentally boost us in the field," Misbah-ul-Haq said. "Most of the players have adapted themselves according to the format and they know exactly what is required to shift their focus from Test to ODI.
"There are a lot of changes in the ODI squad and our specialist players are in really good touch and they know their role and understand what to do."
Pakistan will be without one of their most effective one-day players in Saeed Ajmal, who has flown to Australia to be tested for his action, after umpires reported his action following the first Test.
Ajmal is one of the craftiest bowlers in the sport, and his variations and ability to restrict batsmen, while constantly picking up wickets, will be sorely missed by Pakistan, which Misbah acknowledged. "It will be a big miss," he added. "His exclusion is crucial but at the same time it will be a chance for others to stand up and fulfil what normally Ajmal provides us.
"Everyone is capable and they have to put some effort so that we don't feel his absence."
Ajmal might be back for the second ODI in four days' time, but before that Pakistan will be keen to ensure their premier spinner comes into the side with his team in a winning position.
Pakistan might also be without fast bowler Junaid Khan, who is recovering from a concussion sustained in the second Test match, while Sri Lanka have bowling worries of their own, with their most consistent spinner – Sachitra Senanayake – banned from playing for having an illegal action.
Expected lineups: Sri Lanka: Upul Tharanga, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Lahiru Thirimanne, Angelo Mathews (capt), Thisara Perera, Ashan Priyanjan, Seekuge Prasanna, Nuwan Kulasekara, Lasith Malinga.
Pakistan: Ahmed Shehzad, Mohammad Hafeez, Younis Khan, Misbah-ul-Haq (capt), Fawad Alam, Umar Akmal, Shahid Afridi, Mohammad Talha, Wahab Riaz, Zulfiqar Babar, Mohammad Irfan.
