It was hosted on neutral soil, all 3 ODIs being played at the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

Younis Khan and Shoaib Akhtar were both dropped - Akhtar for his fitness, whilst Khan is playing English county cricket with Yorkshire County Cricket Club.

[3] Only nine of the fifteen players in the Sri Lankan squad who were present for their 2007 World Cup campaign are in the squad for the Abu Dhabi Series - Russel Arnold retired following the World Cup, whilst Muttiah Muralitharan, Kumar Sangakkara and Chaminda Vaas were all rested in order to be given the opportunity to play for their respective English county cricket teams.

Young bowler Nuwan Kulasekara was dropped from the side, as well as former captain Marvan Atapattu, with Sri Lanka Cricket explaining they wanted to give experience to younger players, such as Malinda Warnapura who had earlier impressed for Sri Lanka A.

[4] Both teams had experienced recent changes in coaches: Pakistan's coach Bob Woolmer died in the West Indies following the team's exit from the World Cup - the investigation into his death, amidst claims of murder, is still ongoing.