pakistan vs shri lanka second ODI 14 Nov 2025 live update
2nd ODI of the Sri Lanka tour of Pakistan
| Pakistan (PAK) | Sri Lanka (SL) |
| Fakhar Zaman | Pathum Nissanka |
| Saim Ayub | Kamil Mishara |
| Babar Azam | Kusal Mendis (wk) |
| Mohammad Rizwan (wk) | Sadeera Samarawickrama |
| Salman Ali Agha | Charith Asalanka (c) |
| Hussain Talat | Janith Liyanage |
| Mohammad Nawaz | Kamindu Mendis |
| Faheem Ashraf | Wanindu Hasaranga |
| Shaheen Afridi (c) | Dushmantha Chameera |
| Haris Rauf | Maheesh Theekshana |
| Naseem Shah | Asitha Fernando |
Pakistan vs. Sri Lanka 2nd ODI
The three-match ODI series between Pakistan and Sri Lanka was billed as a pivotal moment for both teams, offering crucial preparation ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy. However, the excitement generated by a thrilling series opener has been tragically overshadowed by security concerns, placing a massive question mark over the fate of the remaining fixtures, including the crucial second ODI scheduled in Rawalpindi.
A Thrilling Series Opener Sets the Stage
The first ODI, played at the same venue just days before, delivered a nail-biting spectacle, ending with Pakistan securing a narrow six-run victory. The match was a compelling demonstration of contrasting team strengths and a brilliant advertisement for the 50-over format.
Pakistan’s innings was a story of redemption. After a disappointing start that saw their celebrated top-order—including Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman—fail to convert their starts, the middle order stepped up heroically. The innings was anchored by a magnificent, match-defining century from Salman Ali Agha. His gritty knock, ably supported by a vital half-century from Hussain Talat, rescued Pakistan from a precarious position to post a challenging total of 299 for 5.
In the chase, Sri Lanka showed immense fight. Their openers, Pathum Nissanka and Kamil Mishara, laid a solid foundation, showcasing an aggressive intent that put Pakistan’s fast bowlers under pressure. However, the visitors suffered a familiar middle-order collapse, a vulnerability they have been trying to iron out. Just when the game seemed to be slipping away, the star all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga played a phenomenal, counter-attacking innings. His blitzkrieg half-century, featuring spectacular boundaries, brought Sri Lanka within touching distance of an unlikely win. Ultimately, the pressure of the final overs and a decisive spell from Pakistan’s pace spearhead Haris Rauf, who finished with four wickets, proved just enough for the hosts to clinch a victory and take a 1-0 series lead.
Uncertainty Clouds the Second Encounter
The narrow margin of the first game promised an enthralling contest in the second ODI, where Sri Lanka would be desperate to level the series. Yet, on the eve of the match, the focus shifted from the pitch to the security arrangements. Following a devastating incident in the nearby capital, Islamabad, reports emerged that several Sri Lankan players had expressed grave concerns about their safety.
This development is a massive blow to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), which has worked tirelessly to re-establish the country as a safe destination for international cricket. The withdrawal of players, whether for a single match or the remainder of the tour, immediately evokes painful memories of past cancellations and the years of isolation from top-tier cricket.
The second ODI, intended to be a stage for Charith Asalanka’s men to prove their resilience and for Shaheen Shah Afridi’s captaincy to face its first major test, now hangs in the balance. While the PCB and Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) have engaged in urgent talks, the emotional and psychological impact of the incident on the visiting squad is undeniable.
What Could Have Been: The Deciding Battle
Had the game proceeded, it was expected to be a high-stakes encounter. Pakistan would have banked on their powerful pace attack of Rauf, Naseem Shah, and Shaheen Afridi to exploit any movement, while their batting maestro Babar Azam would have been under pressure to find his best form after a quiet start.
For Sri Lanka, the key to a series-levelling victory lay in their senior players—like Kusal Mendis and Captain Asalanka—converting their starts into big scores. They needed their spin duo of Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana to dominate the middle overs.
Regardless of the eventual outcome of the series, the uncertainty surrounding the second ODI serves as a sobering reminder of the challenges that continue to plague the return of regular international cricket to Pakistan. For now, the cricketing world waits anxiously, hoping that safety prevails and that the contest can resume, allowing the focus to return to the compelling action promised by the first game.
