Pakistan vs England vs Sri Lanka ODI Tri-Series 2026: Schedule & Squads

In October, One Day International (ODI) cricket is set to take center stage in Pakistan. The tri-nation tournament featuring Pakistan, England and Sri Lanka (the 2026 ODI Tri-Series) will have three former world champions fighting it out in a two-week competition, played in the 50-over format in Rawalpindi and Lahore. The tournament runs from Sunday, October 18, to Saturday, October 31, with the final at Gaddafi Stadium. Tri-nation tournaments are a rarity in today's cricketing world and are a luxury fixture and it promises to be exciting with seven matches, two venues, three teams and one winner. The tournament also falls a year before the 2027 ODI World Cup, meaning all the teams should be at their best. This guide has all the information you need to know, including the full schedule of matches, venues and timings (including the final's 2:00 PM local start time), team details, an explanation of the tournament format and information for spectators regarding tickets and broadcasts.

Pakistan ODI Tri-Series 2026 at a Glance

Detail Info Teams Pakistan, England, Sri Lanka

Dates 18 October to 31 October 2026

Venues Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Gaddafi Stadium (Lahore)

Format ODI, 50 overs a side

Matches 6 league matches plus a final

League structure Each team plays the other two twice

Final Saturday, 31 October, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore

Announced by Pakistan Cricket Board, 19 August 2026

This is the second three-team One Day International (ODI) event that Pakistan is hosting at home within two years. Pakistan hosted New Zealand and South Africa in February 2025, as a build up to the Champions Trophy. The 2026 event will serve the same purpose, providing teams with the opportunity of a number of matches as preparation for a major ICC tournament.

Full Schedule and Venues

The tri-series opens in Rawalpindi and then moves to Lahore for the second half and the final.

Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium

Match Date Fixture 1st ODI Sunday, 18 October Pakistan vs Sri Lanka

2nd ODI Tuesday, 20 October Pakistan vs England

3rd ODI Thursday, 22 October England vs Sri Lanka

Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore

Match Date Fixture 4th ODI Sunday, 25 October Pakistan vs England

5th ODI Tuesday, 27 October Pakistan vs Sri Lanka

6th ODI Thursday, 29 October Sri Lanka vs England

Final Saturday, 31 October Top two teams

A statement from the PCB confirms that the first match will take place on October 18, the match between Pakistan and England on October 25 and the match between Pakistan and Sri Lanka on October 27. Other dates align with the schedule published by ESPNcricinfo and other major websites. One media outlet has called it a five-game affair but PCB dates suggest there are six league matches plus the final so that is presumably an error. If you are planning to go and see it for yourself then you should check the details on the PCB website. Two of the league matches will take place on Sundays (October 18 and 25) and the final on a Saturday. This is good news for supporters who can only attend matches on weekends.

Match Timings: What the Latest Listings Show

Start times are what people look for most regarding competitions like this, but they are also the most likely to change, so here is a detailed overview. The final: Cricbuzz lists the final for Saturday, October 31, at 14:00 local time (09:00 GMT). This is 14:30 in Sri Lanka and 09:00 in the UK (which has fallen behind by an hour on October 25). The teams are still listed as "TBC vs TBC" (to be confirmed), as the finalists will not be known until the group stage ends on October 29. Group stage matches: ESPNcricinfo currently lists all six group stage matches at 09:30 local time (04:30 GMT). This suggests that, if anything, the matches would be day matches and the opening match on October 18 is marked as a day match on its information page. Since there is an afternoon final, the group stage times could certainly change. T20I matches (for comparison): ESPNcricinfo lists three T20I matches in Rawalpindi on October 9, 11 and 13 at... 20:00 local time, under floodlights. Note: As per the latest update as of late September, the PCB has not yet released official start times, squads or ticketing information for this three-team tournament. The above times should be treated as provisional only; please check back as the match dates approach. Pakistan Standard Time (PKT) is GMT+5 and the time in Sri Lanka is 30 minutes ahead of Pakistan time.

Venues: Rawalpindi and Lahore

Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium

The First three matches will be held at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. This venue has a unique connection to Sri Lanka as it was Pakistan's first Test match in a decade, which was played against Sri Lanka in December 2019. In addition, Pakistan recently had an exciting victory over Sri Lanka in the final of a three-team T20I tournament at this venue, as well as winning all three matches of an ODI series against the visitors in November 2025. The Rawalpindi pitch is generally favorable to the batsmen, with very few concessions to the bowlers at the start of the game. However, the spinner can expect to profit from the conditions as the game progresses and a high-scoring game can be expected, with a thrilling showdown between batsmen and bowlers as the game reaches its middle stages.

Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore

Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore will host the remaining four matches, including the final. It is one of the country’s showpieces and has a reputation for lively crowds that turn up in droves at the main events. The stadium’s pitch is also batsman-oriented, as the ball tends to come out of the bat well. Slow bowlers could be very effective as the game progresses. One must keep in mind that in late October and November, smog is a fairly common occurrence in Lahore, so be sure to check air pollution levels in the area before visiting the city.

Squads: What We Know and What We Don't

The title of this post mentions "squads," so let’s be clear: as of September 30, 2026, none of the three associations had announced their squads for the triangular tournament, according to the sources I consulted. The names listed below are players worth watching-based on recent selections for matches played with the white ball-but they do not represent the final squads. This section will need to be updated as soon as the squads are announced.

Pakistan Squad:

Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Saim Ayub, Fakhar Zaman, Sahibzada Farhan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf and Mohammad Nawaz are all in contention for Pakistan's white-ball squads (T20 and ODI). Spinners Abrar Ahmed and Shadab Khan could also make the cut. Pakistan plays its first T20 matches against Sri Lanka, giving the selection committee a chance to evaluate the performance of specific players before the ODI squad is announced.

Sri Lanka Squad:

Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Charith Asalanka and Kamindu Mendis form the core of the batting lineup; the team's strengths are the spin of Wanindu Hasaranga, the pace of Maheesh Theekshana and the ability of the lower-order players, namely Matheesha Pathirana, to score runs consistently. Sri Lanka has already been in the country for about two weeks for the T20 matches.

England Squad:

Harry Brook, Joe Root, Jos Buttler, Jofra Archer and Adil Rashid are all expected to be considered for the squad. However, it should be noted that final decisions regarding the squads had not been made at the time of writing. England arrives in the country immediately after the T20 matches conclude; the team's players will be the most fatigued. If you are selecting a team for a fantasy game or a prediction contest, it might be a good idea to wait for the teams to have been officially announced and the first matches to have taken place.

Format: How the Final Is Decided

Each team will face the other two teams twice each, a total of six league matches, played in 12 days, followed by the final on October 31 in Lahore between the top two teams. Given the tight schedule and the fact that the table ties are likely to be decided by net run rate, every match will be crucial and a slip in the opening matches can be expensive. The points for a win in a match and a tie in the points table are likely to decide the fate of many teams. Hence, it is best to refer to the official rules for the point system once they are published. Since each team plays the other twice, the second match will always have its own context as a team that has lost in Rawalpindi will look to avenge the loss in Lahore and the different conditions and crowd in Lahore are sure to add their own dimension to the encounter.

Why This Tri-Series Matters

1. Three former world champions are meeting in the same event. Pakistan won the World Cup in 1992, Sri Lanka in 1996 and England in 2019. It is rare to see three champions in a tight three-team competition and this is a main reason for the tournament's popularity.
2. Preparations for the World Cup. With the 2027 ODI World Cup fast approaching-only about a year away-it is an excellent opportunity to test team lineups, batting orders and bowling strategies. Selection committees are expected to use these matches to establish particular roles.
3. A significant event for home-soil cricket. Hosting England and Sri Lanka in Rawalpindi and Lahore-alongside T20I matches and two World Test Championship fixtures-makes this one of Pakistan's busiest home cricket seasons in years. This reflects the progress international cricket has made in the country.
4. Sri Lanka's extended tour. The Sri Lankan team arrives on October 4 and will remain in the country through the Test series, which concludes on November 21. They will thus become very familiar with these venues.

Key Contests to Watch

Pakistan’s fast bowlers versus England’s batters

If selected, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah will test England’s top-order batters, while England’s aggressive style of play will, in turn, test the bowlers. The matches between Pakistan and England on October 20 and 25 could set the tone for the entire tournament.

Sri Lanka’s spin bowlers against Pakistan’s middle-order batters

Hasaranga and Theekshana thrive when the pitch offers grip, requiring Pakistan’s batters to play intelligently during the middle overs. Their duels on October 18 and 27 will be well worth watching. Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan

Regardless of discussions regarding their form, these two are the backbone of the Pakistan team in ODI matches. A major innings from either of them could decide the outcome of a game.

Jofra Archer’s pace on flat pitches

If he plays, the contest between his pace and bounce and Pakistan’s top-order batters promises to be one of the match's exciting duels.

The rematch factor

This format allows teams to see each other twice, giving them a chance to improve their knowledge of each other in Lahore. Keep an eye on the teams' adjustments to their tactics between the matches in Rawalpindi and Lahore.

How to Watch and Buy Tickets

Broadcast: The official broadcasters and online streaming deals for the tri-series have not yet been finalized, according to the latest information. In the meantime, keep an eye out on the PCB's website and social media for any updates. Tickets: There were no dates and prices announced for the ODI matches, at the time of writing. In comparison, general admission tickets for the T20I tri-series in Rawalpindi in November 2025 in Rawalpindi cost 200 rupees for the group stage matches. The prices might change for 2026, so it is best to wait for an official announcement before buying tickets. Match day tips: Arrive early to check and security checks and only bring allowed items and buy tickets from authorized sources to avoid scams.

FAQS

When does the 2026 ODI tri-series between Pakistan, England and Sri Lanka begin and end?

The tournament kicked off on Sunday, October 18, 2026, with the first match between Pakistan and Sri Lanka in Rawalpindi. Then, the final match in Rawalpindi's Gaddafi Stadium is set for Saturday, October 31, 2026.

When does the tournament final take place?

The final match on October 31 at 14:00 local time (09:00 GMT) kicks off. However, the teams that will face each other in the final match were not available and the PCB had not yet provided official start times for the event in the sources consulted so far; therefore, it is wise to double-check the timing.

Where are the matches being held and have the team lineups been announced?

The Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium hosts the first three matches (on October 18, 20 and 22), while Lahore's Gaddafi Stadium hosts the last three matches (group stage on October 25, 27 and 29) and the final on October 31. Besides, no information regarding team lineups had been published in the sources consulted (for September 30, 2026), so the organizers and the PCB, England and Sri Lanka can be expected to announce information in due time.