Pakistan face Sri Lanka in ODI tri-series final at Lahore

Pakistan will face Sri Lanka in the final of the ODI tri-nation series at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Saturday. According to Daily Times, the match is scheduled to begin at 1pm PST, and Pakistan aim to defend their title.

Pakistan go into the final after an eight-wicket defeat against Sri Lanka in their last league match, in which they were bowled out for 110, according to The Express Tribune. That result has raised concerns about the batting.

Speaking at a press conference, Salman Ali Agha said: "If we play to our strengths, we can win the final comfortably." He also said the top order needed to deliver, and added: "Our top order is not scoring runs the way it used to three or four years ago. Tomorrow is the final, and I hope it clicks."

Salman said Pakistan should have beaten England more comfortably in their win. Pakistan won that match by one wicket, with Shadab Khan scoring a maiden century. Salman also said: "Mike wants a perfect game, and we have not played like that yet. But I hope we will produce that sort of performance in the final."

The Express Tribune reported that Saim Ayub was sent back to domestic cricket, and that Sahibzada Farhan, who travelled to Lahore in a hurry from a league in Nepal, is expected to enter the XI. Maaz Sadaqat did not impress in the last match against Sri Lanka. Salman said the playing XI will be decided by the captain and coach.

Salman said the pitches used in the series had offered different conditions, that he hopes Fakhar Zaman and Babar Azam score well in the final, and that the cricket board is looking at players' workloads. He also said a target of 350 is increasingly becoming a necessity in ODI cricket, and he acknowledged that his own performance has not been good.

Sri Lanka have also been in form. Pavan Rathnayake has scored two centuries in the series, and the team chased 430 against England, the second-highest successful chase in ODI history, according to The Express Tribune. Salman described the tri-nation series as a success and said he hopes the stadium will be full of fans.