Sri Lanka vs. Pakistan, 1st ODI: Date, Time, Live Stream, TV Info, Preview

Sri Lanka and Pakistan begin a five-match one-day series on Saturday, with Dambulla, Sri Lanka, the venue for the opening game.

The tourists secured an impressive Test series victory against the same opponents, chasing down a target of 377 in Pallekele to win the third and final match by seven wickets. 

Now, though, the focus switches to 50-over cricket. 

Sri Lanka have not played an ODI since their exit from the Cricket World Cup at the quarter-final stage, while Pakistan are desperate to improve on their current position in the rankings.

Date: Saturday, July 11

Time: 10 a.m. local/5.30 a.m. BST

Venue: Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium, Dambulla, Sri Lanka

Live stream and TV info: Ten Cricket and PTV Sports (Pakistan), Rupavahini Corporation (Sri Lanka), Zee Cinema (UK—subscription required)

Weather: Rain seems certain to play a part in proceedings. There is an 80 per cent chance of thunderstorms, per Weather.com, though the schedule for the series has seen the inclusion of reserve days.

Overview

For Sri Lanka, the series is the start of a new era.

Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara are no longer around for the hosts, the pair having retired from one-day cricket after the World Cup defeat at the hands of South Africa.

They combined to score 26,356 runs, including 43 centuries, for their country in 50-over action. 

The home side can still at least call upon the services of veteran batsman Tillakaratne Dilshan, but the selectors have made a number of changes as they look to the future.

Milinda Siriwardana and Sachith Pathirana have been included in a 15-man squad, per ESPN Cricinfo.

The uncapped duo, left-arm spinners who can also bat, are joined in the party by slow bowlers Sachithra Senanayake and Seekkuge Prasanna. Rangana Herath, however, has been left out.

K.M. Chaudary/Associated Press/Associated Press

Pakistan, meanwhile, need an upturn in their one-day fortunes—they are currently ranked ninth by the ICC, leaving them in danger of missing out on the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy.

With only the top eight qualifying for the tournament in England, captain Azhar Ali told Agence France-Presse (h/t the Express Tribune): "This is obviously a very important series for us and we will make sure we play well and win. Most of the players know what to expect in Sri Lanka. We are ready."

Younis Khan and Shan Masood both hit centuries in the third Test victory, though neither are selected for the one-day leg of the tour.

Wahab Riaz is also missing due to injury, though chief selector Haroon Rashid admitted that he could yet play a part in the series, per Cricbuzz: "It is hoped that Wahab recovers well in time to be available for the last two ODIs, and if he is declared fit by the medical panel, the selection committee might consider sending him over depending on the situation of the series after consulting the team management."

The tourists do at least have the fit-again Mohammad Irfan available, while Mukhtar Ahmed and Bilal Asif are the two uncapped players in their 16-man squad.

Key players

Sri Lanka

With Jayawardene and Sangakkara no longer around to be the backbone of the batting order, even more pressure has been heaped on the shoulders of Sri Lanka's captain, Angelo Mathews.

The experienced all-rounder has an ODI batting average of 40.24 but has made just one century in his 156 appearances.

Pakistan

Irfan's return to action is timely for a Pakistan team still without the services of the injured Wahab.

The giant left-arm paceman has a strike-rate of 35.9 in one-day action and gives the bowling attack a cutting edge, even if the series is being played under the new one-day rules, (as detailed by ESPN Cricinfo), meaning no close catchers are required in the opening 10 overs.

Squads

Sri Lanka

Angelo Mathews (captain), Tillakaratne Dilshan, Kusal Perera, Upul Tharanga, Lahiru Thirimanne, Dinesh Chandimal, Milinda Siriwardana, Ashan Priyanjan, Nuwan Pradeep, Thisara Perera, Suranga Lakmal, Lasith Malinga, Sachithra Senanayake, Seekuge Prasanna, Sachith Pathirana

Pakistan

Azhar Ali (captain), Mukhtar Ahmed, Ahmed Shezad, Mohammad Hafeez, Asad Shafiq, Shoaib Malik, Mohammad Rizwan, Babar Azam, Sarfraz Ahmed, Yasir Shah, Bilal Asif, Immad Wasim, Anwar Ali, Mohammad Irfan, Ehsan Adil, Rahat Ali

All stats, as well as squad lists, are from ESPN Cricinfo