Shaheen Acknowledges Room for Improvement Ahead of ODI Tri-Series Final Against Sri Lanka

Lahore. Pakistan captain Shaheen Shah Afridi has acknowledged that his team still has room for improvement ahead of the ODI tri-series final against Sri Lanka, especially in top-order batting and partnerships. Pakistan will play the final at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. Shaheen praised the team’s overall performance in the tournament but made it clear that the basics of batting must be fixed to win the final. His comments came at a time when Pakistan sit at the top of the points table but lost their last league match to Sri Lanka by eight wickets. The captain’s concern is not merely a routine pre-match statement; it points to a structural weakness that has appeared more than once during the tournament. Pakistan won three consecutive matches to qualify for the final, but the final league defeat reminded everyone that topping the table does not automatically create dominance in a one-off final. Pakistan have six points in the tri-series, two more than Sri Lanka. They beat Sri Lanka by 37 runs earlier in the competition, defeated England by 87 runs, and then won a thrilling one-wicket match against the 2026 World Cup winners. In that match, Shadab Khan’s unbeaten century rescued the team from the lower order. However, in the last league fixture, Sri Lanka beat Pakistan by eight wickets and gained psychological momentum before the final. That defeat came after Pakistan had already qualified, so some observers may treat it as a dead-rubber result. But a dead rubber does not erase the seriousness of the loss; it exposed the fragility of the top order and the lack of long partnerships while chasing a substantial target. Both teams will carry those contrasting results into the final. Shaheen said before the match that the team had played good cricket in the tournament but the top order needed to score runs and build longer partnerships. That comment should not be treated as a formality of captaincy. Pakistan’s batting includes experienced names such as Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Shadab Khan and Salman Ali Agha, but experience does not always guarantee consistency. During the tournament, Pakistan’s top order struggled under pressure on more than one occasion. Shadab’s unbeaten century saved the team in one match, but it is also true that if the lower order has to rescue the team repeatedly, questions arise about the batting plan. In a final, such a mistake can prove costly. Pakistan’s main challenge is to build long partnerships in the powerplay and middle overs. In ODI cricket, losing wickets in the first ten overs and then allowing the run rate to stagnate between overs 11 and 40 are both dangerous. Shaheen’s emphasis on top-order runs and partnerships suggests that he knows the team’s real pressure lies in the batting structure, not in the pace attack. If Pakistan’s openers fall early, the middle order comes under added pressure and the lower order is forced to take extra responsibility. To avoid that situation in the final, the top order must lay a foundation of at least 60 to 80 runs. That foundation does not guarantee a big total or a successful chase in the last ten overs, but without it the risk increases sharply. Shadab Khan’s unbeaten innings sent a dual message. On one hand, it showed that the team has the ability to change a match from the lower order. On the other, it raised the question of why the top order made the chase so difficult. A one-wicket win looks exciting, but it is also a warning for the team management. If the lower order is again asked to chase 80 or 90 runs in the final, the probability of success will fall. Pakistan need to use Shadab as a supporting aggressor rather than a rescue operator. For that, the top order must make his job easier. In bowling, Shaheen Shah Afridi has taken eight wickets in four matches and is joint-second in the tournament’s wicket-taking list. That figure proves his value, but wicket count alone does not tell the full story. His average, economy rate and strike rate are not available, so it is difficult to judge how economical he has been. Combining the roles of captain and frontline fast bowler is a dual burden for Shaheen. In the final, he will have to manage his own overs along with field settings, bowling changes and pressure management. If that workload is not balanced, the team’s performance could suffer. Pakistan’s pace attack also includes Haris Rauf and Naseem Shah, while Abrar Ahmed, Shadab Khan and Arafat Minhas provide spin and all-round options. On paper, the combination looks balanced. There are options of pace and swing in the fast-bowling department, while the spin group mixes experience with youthful energy. But balance on paper is different from balance on the field. In the final, bowling success will depend on when Shaheen uses which bowler and how he creates angles to trouble Sri Lanka’s batsmen. Pakistan’s record against Sri Lanka is mixed. Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by 37 runs in the early part of the series, but Sri Lanka won the last league match by eight wickets. This means Pakistan have consistency in reaching the final, while Sri Lanka have the confidence of the most recent win. A final is a different match, and the points table does not play directly in it. Pakistan’s three consecutive wins show that they were strong in the group stage. But the eight-wicket defeat also shows that Sri Lanka have identified Pakistan’s weaknesses. For Sri Lanka, that win is psychologically important even though they finished below Pakistan in the league table. An eight-wicket victory means they either restricted Pakistan to a modest score or chased a target with ease. Pakistan should not go into the final thinking that the previous defeat was only a dead rubber. It is possible that Pakistan made changes or reduced intensity after qualification, but that does not mean there is nothing to learn from the loss. If Pakistan repeat the top-order problem, Sri Lanka will try to create the same pressure again. Home advantage could help Pakistan. Support from the crowd at Gaddafi Stadium will be a source of energy. Shaheen also referred to the crowd’s support and expected attendance. But home ground also brings pressure, especially when the top order looks fragile. In a final, with thousands of fans watching, early wickets can multiply the pressure. Pakistan must turn that pressure into positive energy. Information about the weather, dew or the nature of the pitch is limited, so it is impossible to say in advance how decisive the toss will be or how much dew will affect the second innings. The final’s strategy will be divided into three phases. In the first ten overs, Pakistan must avoid both reckless wicket-losing and an extremely slow start. In the middle overs, they must keep the run rate moving through partnerships. In the last ten overs, set batsmen must take risks. With the ball, Shaheen will want early success in the powerplay, while the spinners must both contain runs and take wickets in the middle overs. If Sri Lanka do not lose early top-order wickets, the match could go to the last few overs. In that case, Shaheen’s real test as captain will come in the death overs. Pakistan’s squad includes two wicketkeepers and several all-round options, which gives the team selection choices. But too many options do not always provide clarity. In the final, the team management must decide which combination preserves both batting depth and bowling penetration. Batsmen such as Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman and Salman Ali Agha must take responsibility for the top order. Shadab Khan must provide balance as an all-rounder. The match situation will decide how Shaheen, Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah, Abrar Ahmed and Arafat Minhas are used. There is no official information about injuries or fitness, so it cannot be said whether workload will affect any player. This is the final of an international ODI tri-series, not a franchise league match. Therefore, auction, salary purse or trade metrics do not apply. The event’s importance is linked to home international cricket, crowd participation and the cricket environment in Pakistan. A well-attended and competitive final could be a positive signal for the PCB, but data on ticket sales, broadcast rights or finances is not available. Shaheen’s captaincy and popularity may have commercial value, but that cannot be assessed from on-field performance alone. Overall, Pakistan have reached the final at the top of the table, but their last league performance was weak. Shaheen has pointed to the right issues. If Pakistan’s top order absorbs early pressure and builds partnerships, and if the bowling unit prevents Sri Lanka from posting a big score, the hosts will hold the advantage. But if the same old problem repeats and the lower order has to rescue the team again, Sri Lanka can turn the final in their favour. The points table favours Pakistan, but recent form and the latest head-to-head result give Sri Lanka a chance. Therefore, despite Pakistan looking stronger on paper, this final is likely to be a closely contested match.