DAMBULLA: With the Test series in the bag, Pakistan will now focus on the One-day Internationals against Sri Lanka from Saturday that could determine their qualification for the 2017 Champions Trophy.

Misbah-ul Haq’s tourists won the Test rubber 2-1 by chasing down a target of 377 for the loss of just three wickets after being 13-2 in the decisive final match in Pallekele on Tuesday.

Pakistan achieved the sixth highest successful chase in history through a brilliant unbeaten 171 from Younis Khan, 125 from opener Shan Masood and 59 not out from Misbah.

But none of these batsmen will be seen in action when the five-match ODI series opens in Dambulla — with Misbah having retired from limited-overs cricket and both Younis and Shan not selected.

Top-order batsman Azhar Ali will lead the ninth-ranked tourists who need a series win to keep their hopes alive of qualifying for the eight-nation Champions Trophy in England.

“This is obviously a very important series for us and we will make sure we play well and win,” Azhar said. “Most of the players know what to expect in Sri Lanka. We are ready.”

Pakistan have struggled in ODIs in recent months after being knocked out by eventual champions and hosts Australia in the quarter-finals of the World Cup in Adelaide in March.

Pakistan pacer Mohammad Irfan plays with a football.—AFP

Azhar’s men suffered a 3-0 embarrassment at the hands of Bangladesh in April, before beating lowly Zimbabwe 2-0 in their first home series since 2009.

Pakistan have called up left-arm fast bowler Mohammad Irfan, the tallest international cricketer ever at seven feet one inch (2.16 metres), who has recovered from a hip injury suffered during the World Cup.

But pace spearhead Wahab Riaz is still sidelined with a hand injury sustained during the Test series, while spinning all-rounder Haris Sohail has an injured knee.

The touring squad includes two new batsmen in Mukhtar Ahmed, 22, and Bilal Asif, 29, while batsman Umar Akmal and seamer Junaid Khan were not selected.

Sri Lanka, playing their first ODI series since the retirement of Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara from the shorter format after the World Cup, are also rebuilding for the future.

The hosts, who were also World Cup quarter-finalists, have included two new all-rounders, Milinda Siriwardana and Sachith Pathirana, both of whom bowl left-arm spin.

Sri Lankan batsman Upul Tharanga bats in the nets.—AFP

Sri Lanka’s 15-man squad, led by Test captain Angelo Mathews, includes just six players who took part in the preceding Test series.

The rivals will get their first taste of the new ODI regulations which have no batting powerplay, no compulsory close-in catchers in the opening 10 overs, and allow five fielders outside the circle -- instead of four -- in the final 10 overs.

The series starts with a day match in Dambulla, followed by day-night games in Pallekele (July 15), Colombo (July 19, 22) and Hambantota (July 26).

Teams (from):

PAKISTAN: Azhar Ali (captain), Mukhtar Ahmed, Ahmed Shezad, Mohammad Hafeez, Asad Shafiq, Shoaib Malik, Mohammad Rizwan, Babar Azam, Sarfraz Ahmed, Yasir Shah, Bilal Asif, Immad Wasim, Anwar Ali, Mohammad Irfan, Ehsan Adil, Rahat Ali.

SRI LANKA: Angelo Mathews (captain), Tillakaratne Dilshan, Kusal Perera, Upul Tharanga, Lahiru Thirimanne, Dinesh Chandimal, Milinda Siriwardana, Ashan Priyanjan, Nuwan Pradeep, Thisara Perera, Suranga Lakmal, Lasith Malinga, Sachithra Senanayake, Seekuge Prasanna, Sachith Pathirana.

Published in Dawn, July 11th, 2015

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