ICC World Cup 2023: Pakistan vs Sri Lanka match preview & prediction

The 8th match of the ICC World Cup 2023 will see Pakistan take on Sri Lanka at the Rajiv Gandhi International International Stadium in Hyderabad on Tuesday. 

The Green Shirts comfortably won their opening game against the Netherlands while Sri Lanka fell to a heavy defeat at the hands of South Africa. 

Match Preview 

Babar Azam-led side endured a disappointing Asia Cup but they have made a winning start to their World Cup campaign. 

The 1992 world champions defeated Netherlands by 81 runs but it was far from a convincing performance. 

They were rattled early on by the Dutch bowlers who dismissed their three top batters when the score was just 38. 

Muhammad Rizwan and Saud Shakeel’s partnership proved to be crucial for the Green Shirts who eventually put together a respectable 287 target. 

Shakeel played a 68 runs knock from just 52 balls, with the wicket keeper batsman also contributing the same runs. 

Pakistan would have had trouble defending the total if not for the brilliant bowling from Haris Rauf, Hassan Ali and Shaheen Shah Afridi. 

Apart from Vikramjit Singh and Bas de Leede, none of the other Dutch batsmen managed to stay long at the crease. 

Rauf and Hassan claimed three and two scalps respectively as the Green Shirts comfortably won the game by 81 runs. 

They will now have to step up their game if they want to beat Sri Lanka who boast plenty of quality in their ranks. Especially the two openers Imam and Fakhar as well as Babar will need to shoulder more responsibility and contribute more runs for the team. 

The Lankan Lions defeated their opponents on Tuesday in a very close contest in the Asia Cup last month. 

Kusal Mendis and Charith Asalanka were the standout performers as they helped the team to a two-wicket success after Pakistan posted 252 runs on the board in 42 overs. 

However, Sri Lanka were far from their best in their opening ICC World Cup 2023 match against South Africa. 

The Proteas scored a mammoth 428 runs in 50 overs, with Rassie van der Dussen, Quinton de Kock, and Aiden Markram all completing centuries. 

Markram created World Cup history by smashing the fastest century in the prestigious tournament, reaching the milestone off just 49 deliveries. 

The Lions made a good effort to chase the target but eventually fell short by 102 runs. 

Mendis departed on 76 while Asalanka and Dasun Shanaka scored 79 and 68 respectively. 

Sri Lanka will hope to make a big comeback in the tournament by defeating Pakistan on Tuesday. 

Pakistan vs Sri Lanka predicted playing XI 

Pakistan: Imam-ul-Haq, Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Saud Shakeel, Iftikhar Ahmed, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf

Sri Lanka: Dasun Shanaka (c), Kusal Perera, Pathum Nissanka, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Kusal Mendis (wk), Dunith Wellalage, Matheesha Pathirana, Dilshan Madushanka, Kasun Rajitha

How to Watch? 

Fans can enjoy the Pakistan vs Sri Lanka match, as well as all other games of the ICC World Cup 2023, via cricket live streams. 

Pakistan vs Sri Lanka prediction  

Pakistan have made a positive start to the World Cup campaign by easily beating Netherlands last week. Considering their impressive bowling attack consisting of Shaheen and Rauf, we expect them to also prevail against Sri Lanka on Tuesday.