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Pakistan, England and Sri Lanka begin a seven-match One-Day International tri-series on October 18, 2026, with the tournament scheduled to run through October 31 in Rawalpindi and Lahore. The Pakistan Cricket Board has said the series forms part of the teams’ preparations for the 2027 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup. Hosts Pakistan open against Sri Lanka at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, before the tournament shifts to Lahore for the closing round of league fixtures and the final.
The opening three matches will be played at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on October 18, 20 and 22. Pakistan meet Sri Lanka in the opener, Pakistan then face England on October 20, and Sri Lanka take on England two days later. The teams will then move to Lahore, where Gaddafi Stadium hosts the final four matches.
The Lahore leg begins with Pakistan against England on October 25, followed by Pakistan against Sri Lanka on October 27 and Sri Lanka against England on October 29. The top two sides from the league stage are scheduled to contest the final on October 31 at Gaddafi Stadium. The PCB has said matches are scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. local time, with the toss at 12:30 p.m. Pakistan time.
The tri-series gives the three teams a sequence of 50-over matches ahead of the 2027 World Cup, which will be hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia. For the teams, the tournament provides an opportunity to test combinations, assess player roles and build rhythm in the format. Results will matter, but the series also offers coaching staffs a competitive setting to evaluate their squads under match conditions.
Pakistan are led by Shaheen Shah Afridi, according to the PCB’s announcement on the squad’s preparations. The 16-member group began training at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on October 15, with coaches including head coach Mike Hesson, batting coach Mike Smith, bowling coach Shaun Tait and fielding coach Mansoor Amjad overseeing the sessions. The board described the training as part of the team’s preparation for a busy 50-over season.
England’s tour adds an international test to Pakistan’s preparations, while Sri Lanka arrive after their three-match T20I series against Pakistan earlier in October. The ODI tri-series schedule gives each side two league-stage meetings against the other teams, followed by a final for the top two. That structure offers repeated match-ups rather than a single round-robin encounter.
The England and Wales Cricket Board confirmed the dates and venues in its announcement of the tour. The schedule places the first three games in Rawalpindi and the final four in Lahore, giving both cities a role in hosting the competition. The change of venue also means teams will need to adapt their preparation to two grounds during the tournament.
- October 18: Pakistan vs Sri Lanka — Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium
- October 20: Pakistan vs England — Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium
- October 22: Sri Lanka vs England — Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium
- October 25: Pakistan vs England — Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
- October 27: Pakistan vs Sri Lanka — Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
- October 29: Sri Lanka vs England — Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
- October 31: Final — Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
The opening match between Pakistan and Sri Lanka will establish the first competitive reference point in the series. Pakistan’s pace options and batting combinations, England’s approach to the 50-over format and Sri Lanka’s squad balance will all be areas to follow as the matches progress. The final qualification will depend on the league results, with the top two teams advancing to the October 31 decider.
For supporters, the PCB has announced ticketing and broadcast information through its official channels, including PCB Live. The schedule and start times should be checked against official match updates in case of changes. With the World Cup less than a year away, the series is an early opportunity for three former world champions to test themselves in a multi-team ODI competition.
