Pakistan wrapped up a commanding 3–0 ODI series win over Sri Lanka with a convincing six-wicket victory in the final match at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Sunday. The hosts once again displayed dominance in all departments, sealing the whitewash in style while also handing debutant Haseebullah Khan his first international cap.
Pakistan successfully chased down Sri Lanka’s target of 212, finishing at 215/4 with plenty of overs to spare. Mohammad Rizwan and Hussain Talat guided the side home with a composed partnership, ensuring the series concluded on a high for the green shirts.
Wasim Jr Leads With the Ball, Rauf Claims Series Honors
The day belonged to Pakistan’s bowlers, who kept Sri Lanka under constant pressure. Mohammad Wasim Jr delivered an impressive spell, taking three important wickets while conceding just 47 runs. His performance earned him the Player of the Match award.
Haris Rauf, meanwhile, continued his blistering form throughout the series, finishing with nine wickets in three matches to claim the Player of the Series award. Reflecting on his performance, Rauf said his goal was always to make an impact in challenging phases of the game.
“My role is to bowl first change. When a partnership builds, I try to deliver the breakthrough. Big scores are common in ODIs now, so I focus more on taking wickets than restricting runs,” he said, as quoted by Cricinfo.
Rotation, Debuts, and Tactical Changes Define Final ODI
With the series already secured, Pakistan made four changes to their XI. Young wicketkeeper-batter Haseebullah Khan replaced Saim Ayub at the top of the order, making his much-anticipated international debut. Mohammad Nawaz, Naseem Shah, and Abrar Ahmed were rested, with Faheem Ashraf, Wasim Jr, and left-arm wrist-spinner Faisal Akram being drafted in.
Sri Lanka also made adjustments, including the absence of captain Charith Asalanka due to illness. Pavan Rathnayake, Eshan Malinga, and Jeffrey Vandersay returned to the lineup for their first match of the series.
Pakistan’s decision to bowl first paid off immediately as the bowling unit prevented Sri Lanka from forming stable partnerships. With disciplined bowling, sharp fielding, and controlled batting, Pakistan maintained their dominance from start to finish.
The emphatic series sweep serves as a confidence boost for Pakistan as they continue to experiment with combinations ahead of upcoming international assignments, while the debut of Haseebullah Khan adds fresh talent to their evolving lineup.
