Pakistan are set to face Sri Lanka in a three-match ODI collection starting Tuesday at Rawalpindi, trying to preserve their profitable momentum.Newly appointed ODI captain Shaheen Shah Afridi not too long ago led Pakistan to a 2-1 victory over South Africa at dwelling in Faisalabad.“Going into the Sri Lanka collection, our focus is to hold that profitable momentum ahead,” Afridi mentioned at Pindi Cricket Stadium, which hosts all three ODIs this week. “We need to construct consistency in our performances and make it possible for we maintain enhancing as a staff in each division.”Pakistan’s ODI efficiency in 2025 has been disappointing, resulting in Afridi changing Mohammad Rizwan as captain earlier than the South Africa collection. They misplaced bilateral collection towards New Zealand and West Indies, had been defeated within the tri-nation collection last by New Zealand, and failed to achieve the Champions Trophy semifinals on dwelling soil.Pakistan struggled in ODIs throughout 2025, shedding 10 out of 14 matches. Afridi emphasised the necessity for staff accountability within the 50-over format.“All of the gamers ought to take accountability,” he mentioned. “It is not Shaheen, Fakhar (Zaman), Babar (Azam), or Saim’s (Ayub) job, all of us ought to do our greatest. We must always even again these gamers who aren’t performing and at all times imagine that we will carry out as a staff.”Younger batsman Saim Ayub impressed towards South Africa with two half-centuries, together with a prime rating of 77 within the decisive third ODI chase of 144.Babar Azam managed solely 45 runs throughout three innings, whereas Fakhar Zaman scored 45 within the first match adopted by two geese. The Pakistan batting lineup noticed contributions from Salman Ali Agha with two fifties and Rizwan’s 55 towards South Africa.“I used to be actually happy with the best way the gamers responded to totally different conditions and performed as a unit (towards South Africa),” Afridi mentioned. “The vitality, intent and teamwork had been excellent.”Sri Lanka, ranked fourth in ODI rankings above fifth-placed Pakistan, enters the collection after profitable dwelling wins towards Australia and Bangladesh, plus an away victory over Zimbabwe.Sri Lanka has named a full-strength squad underneath Charith Asalanka’s management, in contrast to South Africa who toured with out seven key gamers. Solely quick bowler Dilshan Madushanka is absent as a result of damage, changed by potential debutant Eshan Malinga.“That is at all times a tricky collection with regards to Pakistan, their dwelling, their circumstances,” Asalanka mentioned. “Pakistan performed good cricket of their final collection and we too. We performed 30-45 days in the past in Zimbabwe and performed very well, particularly our ODI facet has been doing very well.”Pakistan is predicted to organize batting-friendly wickets to counter Sri Lanka’s spin trio of Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, and Jeffrey Vandersay.The ODI collection can be adopted by a T20 tri-series that includes Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Zimbabwe in Rawalpindi and Lahore, starting November 17.