With dew around, toss likely to play an important part

Sri Lanka v Pakistan 3-match ODI series starts today

- BY SA'ADI THAWFEEQ

WITH Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) cancelling the 2025 Lanka Premier League (LPL), the ODI series against Pakistan starting at Rawalpindi today followed by the Pakistan T20I Tri-Series involving Zimbabwe in Rawalpindi and Lahore will be Sri Lanka's final international cricket engagements for the year.

The LPL was scheduled to take place in December, but following its cancellation in order to prepare the pitches for the 2026 ICC T20 World Cup, Sri Lanka will have a barren December devoid of any international cricket until Pakistan and then England arrive for two separate white ball series in January and February. What effect it will have on our T20I team is a matter of conjecture because for the entire month of December they will be left to practice and train amongst themselves. There is nothing like playing a competitive series against another nation to test the strength of the team which at the same time exposes any weak areas that need to be rectified. But then Sri Lanka is left with only the six T20I matches against Pakistan and England (plus 6 ODIs) to prepare in what will be a challenging T20 World Cup for them although they are co-hosts with India and will play their matches in home conditions.