Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium — where the tri-series begins on Saturday. Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Direct answer: Pakistan, England and Sri Lanka meet in a seven-match ODI tri-series from October 18 to 31 in Rawalpindi and Lahore — every match a 1:00 PM day-nighter, the top two reaching the October 31 final at Gaddafi Stadium. Shaheen Shah Afridi captains Pakistan, Harry Brook leads England, and Kusal Mendis leads a Sri Lanka side that has just lost Pathum Nissanka to injury. My prediction, up front: Pakistan and England reach the final, and home conditions make Pakistan slight favourites to lift the trophy.
Why this tri-series matters
Let me be honest about what this tournament really is. On paper it is a short home tri-series. In reality, it is the first serious rehearsal for the 2027 ODI World Cup in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia — and all three of these teams know it. Pakistan are rebuilding their ODI identity under Shaheen Afridi. England, under Harry Brook, have quietly won their last two ODI series, both 2-1, against India and Sri Lanka. And Sri Lanka arrive in Pakistan already warmed up, having just pushed Pakistan hard in the T20I series before winning the final game in Rawalpindi behind Kusal Mendis's unbeaten 87.
Full schedule — every match
- Oct 18: Pakistan vs Sri Lanka — Rawalpindi
- Oct 20: Pakistan vs England — Rawalpindi
- Oct 22: England vs Sri Lanka — Rawalpindi
- Oct 25: Pakistan vs England — Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
- Oct 27: Pakistan vs Sri Lanka — Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
- Oct 29: England vs Sri Lanka — Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
- Oct 31: FINAL — Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
Pakistan — Shaheen's team, Babar's stage
Shaheen Afridi (captain), Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Hasan Nawaz, Saad Baig (wk), Ghazi Ghori (wk), Faheem Ashraf, Shadab Khan, Arafat Minhas, Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah, Abrar Ahmed, Sufiyan Moqim, Razaullah.
Seven of them — Shaheen, Babar, Faheem, Salman, Haris, Saad Baig and Ghazi Ghori — have already checked into the team hotel, and the first training session was set for Rawalpindi this afternoon. What I like about this squad is the spin depth: Abrar, Shadab and Sufiyan, with Salman and Saim able to bowl too — on October pitches in Rawalpindi and Lahore, that is a real weapon. What worries me is the same old question: the middle order's tempo. Babar's return to the ODI side is the headline — if he anchors and the young hitters play around him, Pakistan are the team to beat. If the innings stalls in the middle overs the way it has before, England will punish them.
Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore — hosts the final on October 31. Photo: Wikimedia Commons
England — Brook's young side, and they are in form
Harry Brook (captain), Joe Root, Ben Duckett, Tom Banton (wk), Jordan Cox (wk), Will Jacks, Sam Curran, Liam Dawson, James Coles, Jamie Overton, Gus Atkinson, Adil Rashid, Mason Crane, Josh Tongue, Sonny Baker, Henry Crocombe.
Do not let the missing names fool you. Yes, Jos Buttler is out with a hamstring injury and Jofra Archer is rested — but this group has won its last two ODI series, Rashid and Curran are back from injury, and Tom Banton was England's top scorer against Sri Lanka with a maiden ODI hundred. Mason Crane, eight years after his only Test, gets a first ODI call-up. England arrive on October 16, and their first game — Pakistan in Rawalpindi on the 20th — is the match of the group stage for me.
Sri Lanka — Mendis leads, but the Nissanka blow is huge
Kusal Mendis (captain, wk), Lahiru Udara, Avishka Fernando, Kamil Mishara, Pavan Rathnayake, Sahan Arachchige, Kamindu Mendis, Janith Liyanage, Dasun Shanaka, Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Sachindu Colombage, Dushmantha Chameera, Asitha Fernando, Dilshan Madushanka, Eshan Malinga.
The news broke today: Pathum Nissanka is OUT of the whole tournament — the hamstring injury from the England tour never healed in time, and Lahiru Udara, still waiting for his ODI debut, replaces him. Add the absence of Wanindu Hasaranga and Charith Asalanka, and Sri Lanka are missing three of their best white-ball players. Mendis himself is in glorious touch — that 87 not out three nights ago was a masterclass — and Chameera loves Rawalpindi. But squad depth wins tri-series, and Sri Lanka's has been cut badly.
All seven tri-series matches are day-nighters, starting 1:00 PM local time. Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)
The opener — Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, Saturday in Rawalpindi
Three nights after Sri Lanka won the T20I at the same ground, they meet again in a different format. ODIs suit Pakistan's squad better — more spin, more Babar, more time for Shaheen and Naseem with the new ball. Sri Lanka's best hope is Mendis batting deep and Theekshana strangling the middle overs. My call: Pakistan win the opener, but not comfortably.
My prediction for the tournament
Group stage: Pakistan top, England second, Sri Lanka third — the injuries cost Sri Lanka a final place. Final, October 31 in Lahore: Pakistan vs England, and I am backing Pakistan at home, in front of a Lahore crowd, with the better spin attack. Brook's England are the future of ODI cricket, but October in Pakistan is a hard school, and Shaheen's men have more ways to win here. England fans can screenshot this and remind me on the 31st.
Read more on NajamSports:
- Sri Lanka beat Pakistan in the 3rd T20I — Mendis 87* in Rawalpindi
- New Zealand name ODI squad for India series
Sources
- Wikipedia — 2026–27 Pakistan ODI Tri-Series (fixtures and squads, verified October 15, 2026)
- ProPakistani — Seven players join Pakistan squad ahead of ODI tri-series, October 15, 2026 (schedule, Pakistan squad, team-hotel arrivals)
- ICC / ECB via ICC-cricket.com — England name reshuffled squad, October 1, 2026 (Buttler hamstring, Archer rested, Rashid and Curran return, Crane maiden ODI call-up)
- Sky Sports — England's last two ODI series won 2-1 (India and Sri Lanka); all seven matches live, October 18–31
- A Sports / ARY News — Pathum Nissanka ruled out (hamstring), Lahiru Udara named replacement, October 15, 2026