Pakistan ODI Tri-Series 2026: Pakistan, England and Sri Lanka Battle in Rawalpindi and Lahore

Pakistan's home season is in full swing. The country is hosting a three-team one-day tournament with England and Sri Lanka, and fans in Rawalpindi and Lahore have a packed fortnight ahead. Six round-robin matches will decide which two teams reach the final at Gaddafi Stadium on 31 October. This guide covers the schedule, venues, squads, results so far and what the series means for Pakistan's World Cup plans.

Quick facts

Series: ODI tri-series (double round robin) Teams: Pakistan, England, Sri Lanka Dates: 18 to 31 October 2026 Venues: Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium and Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore Matches: 6 round-robin games plus the final Match start: 1:30pm PKT, day/night Final: 31 October, Lahore Pakistan captain: Shaheen Shah Afridi

How the tri-series works

Each team plays the other two sides twice. The top two teams after the six round-robin games meet in the final in Lahore. The first three matches are in Rawalpindi, and the teams then move to Lahore for the remaining three group games and the final.

This is the second year in a row that Pakistan has hosted a three-team ODI event. In February 2025 they hosted New Zealand and South Africa in a tri-series before the Champions Trophy. This time the build-up is for the 2027 ODI World Cup, which will be staged in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia.

Full schedule and venues

All games start at 1:30pm Pakistan time.

Squad news

Shaheen Shah Afridi leads Pakistan, with Babar Azam in the batting group. Mohammad Rizwan was left out of the squad because of an ongoing inquiry by the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency.

Sri Lanka have recalled Avishka Fernando, who had not played an ODI since February 2025. England have Sam Curran back after a groin injury kept him out of the earlier T20I leg, and Sonny Baker and James Coles are also in their squad.

Pakistan beat England in the second match

The tournament's biggest talking point so far came on 20 October in Rawalpindi, where Pakistan beat England by 87 runs. Left-arm spinner and all-rounder Arafat Minhas was the star. Batting at number seven with Pakistan struggling at 133 for 5, he made 59 off 58 balls and added useful stands with Hasan Nawaz and Faheem Ashraf. With the ball he took six wickets, including Harry Brook, and he finished the match with a direct-hit run out. He was named Player of the Match.

The result gives Pakistan an early boost in the standings and puts pressure on England ahead of their meeting with Sri Lanka on 22 October.

Sri Lanka's long tour of Pakistan

Sri Lanka are on an extended visit. It began with a three-match T20I series in Rawalpindi on 9, 11 and 13 October, which Pakistan won 2-1. That was Pakistan's first T20I series since the 2026 T20 World Cup.

After the tri-series, Sri Lanka play a three-day warm-up game in Islamabad from 4 to 6 November. Two Tests then follow as part of the ICC World Test Championship 2025-27:

• First Test: Rawalpindi, 9 to 13 November
• Second Test: Lahore, 17 to 21 November

England's busy winter

The tri-series is the first assignment of a heavy winter for England. They are scheduled to travel to Australia for white-ball matches, then to South Africa in December and January for Tests and ODIs, to Bangladesh in February, and back to Australia for the 150th anniversary Test at the MCG in March.

What the experts say

Pakistan captain Shaheen Shah Afridi has praised Minhas as a complete all-rounder who can influence a game with both bat and ball. England's Harry Brook admitted that Minhas was the standout performer of the match by a long way.

Why this series matters

With the World Cup less than a year away, high-quality ODI cricket is hard to find, and a tri-series gives each team several competitive games in a short window. For Pakistan the priorities are clear: settle the batting order after Rizwan's absence, find the right bowling combination for the middle overs, and show that the leadership group can handle pressure in front of home crowds.

What is next

England meet Sri Lanka in Rawalpindi on 22 October, and then the series shifts to Lahore, where Pakistan play England on 25 October and Sri Lanka on 27 October. The final on 31 October will decide the champion.

Frequently asked questions

When is the Pakistan ODI tri-series 2026 final? The final is on 31 October at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore.

Which teams are playing? Pakistan, England and Sri Lanka.

Where are the matches being played? Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium hosts the first three matches, and Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore hosts the next three plus the final.

What time do the matches start? 1:30pm Pakistan time.

Who is Pakistan's captain? Shaheen Shah Afridi.

Who won the Pakistan vs England match on 20 October? Pakistan won by 87 runs, with Arafat Minhas named Player of the Match.

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