- Pakistan and Sri Lanka are trying to find the right mix as the countdown to the World Cup begins. Babar Azam and Arafat Minhas give Pakistan reason to doom as Sri Lanka continues its search for an established combination. The three that matter: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah, all smiling after dismissing Pat Cummins The three that matter: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah, all smiling after dismissing Pat Cummins, India vs Australia, World Cup, Chennai, October 8, 2023 Pakistan also did little to cheer up 2026, but they had far more success than Sri Lanka.
- They won their last ODI series against Australia 2-1.
- In this series, Pakistan may have even discovered a young all-round talent: left-arm spinner and lower-order batsman Arafat Minhas, who won the Player of the Series award for his seven wickets at an average of 12.28.
Pakistan and Sri Lanka are trying to find the right mix as the countdown to the World Cup begins. Babar Azam and Arafat Minhas give Pakistan reason to doom as Sri Lanka continues its search for an established combination. The three that matter: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah, all smiling after dismissing Pat Cummins The three that matter: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah, all smiling after dismissing Pat Cummins, India vs Australia, World Cup, Chennai, October 8, 2023 Pakistan also did little to cheer up 2026, but they had far more success than Sri Lanka.
They won their last ODI series against Australia 2-1. In this series, Pakistan may have even discovered a young all-round talent: left-arm spinner and lower-order batsman Arafat Minhas, who won the Player of the Series award for his seven wickets at an average of 12.28. He has also been in blistering form in the last 10 days as he took five wickets in the three T20Is against Sri Lanka.
Against Australia, Pakistan also showed excellent performances from Shaheen Afridi and legspinner Abrar Ahmed. In fact, it was the Pakistan bowlers who dominated in a low-scoring series. All three series are important for all three teams as there are now officially less than 12 months until the World Cup, which is scheduled to begin on October 2nd next year.
Sri Lanka still has a lot to discover: the white-ball teams have undergone serious changes this year as a new group of selectors search (often in vain) for a winning combination. Pakistan also has players and strategies to test. Pakistan: WLWLW (last five completed matches, most recent first) Sri Lanka: LWLWL In the series against Australia, Babar Azam top-scored for Pakistan with 40, 16 and 69, an average of 41.66 in all matches.
No one will call it a return to his prime, but it was an encouraging sign after a modest run in 2025 in which he averaged .34 in 17 innings. Sri Lanka have been one of their favorite opponents over the years, with Babar scoring four of his 20 centuries against them at an average of 58.33. The tracks in Rawalpindi should at least be suitable for batting.
Can he carve out some form in the format he is currently playing in? Many think that Lahiru Udara has reason to be upset with the voters. After hitting 188 against the West Indies three Tests ago, he was completely left out of the squad for the next Test series.
But with Pathum Nissanka ruled out of the ODIs due to a persistent hamstring problem, Udara came into contention for the ODI last week after a good innings in the T20I. At 32, he knows his chances at this level are numbered. With the World Cup on the horizon, there is probably no better format to impress than the ODIs at the moment.
Without Sahibzada Farhan and Maaz Sadaqat in the ODI team, Saim Ayub and Fakhar Zaman could open. Pakistan (possible): 1 Saim Ayub, 2 Fakhar Zaman, 3 Hasan Nawaz, 4 Babar Azam, 5 Salman Ali Agha, 6 Shadab Khan, 7 Ghazi Ghouri (wk), 8 Minhas Arafat, 9 Shaheen Afridi (ct.), 10 Haris Rauf, 11 Naseem Shah Sri Lanka could bring Avishka Fernando straight into the eleven, followed by Kamil Mishara with a line modest scores. Sri Lanka also have some decisions to make in the spin bowling department, although they are likely to prefer Maheesh Theekshana over legspinner Sachindu Colombage.
Sri Lanka (possible): 1 Lahiru Udara, 2 Avishka Fernando, 3 Kusal Mendis (ct, sem), 4 Kamindu Mendis, 5 Sahan Arachchige/Pavan Rathnayake, 6 Janith Liyanage, 7 Dasun Shanaka, Dunith Wellalage, 8 Dushmantha Chameera, 9 Eshan Malinga, 10 Maheesh Theekshana, 11 Asitha Les Fernando Rawalpindi surfaces tend to be batsman-friendly and with short boundaries also on offer, batsmen should thrive. The weather should be nice, with temperatures between 20 and 20 degrees. The last time these teams met in November last year, Babar Azam scored 29, 102* and 34, all in Rawalpindi. Lahiru Udara has never played an ODI and has just three List A hundreds in 102 innings. Since 2019, Pakistan has won all five ODIs at home against Sri Lanka.
These include three in Rawalpindi, Babar Azam and Arafat Minhas, giving Pakistan reason for wrong thinking as Sri Lanka continues its search for an established combination. Arafat Minhas walks away after his first five-wicket win, Pakistan vs Australia, 1st ODI, Rawalpindi, May 30, 2026. Madushanka dismisses the first two! This one was hit shorter and pears to have run to Fakhar, who is late in jumping and ends up going up the middle to take a fairly easy catch. This time it’s taken! Madushanka goes further and finishes with a low throw – another one that rises in the air – and once again Saim conspires to grab a leading edge which, much to the center’s surprise, bounces gently towards him to simply catch him forward.
Saim tried to advance this through the onside. Dilshan Madushanka struck with the new ball, Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, ODI tri-series, Rawalpindi, October 18, 2026 Yes! This had been planned for some time and the trick finally paid off. It was all about perfect implementation, which SL managed this time.
Short and in his body and Babar is restricted in space and tries to pull it. Makes for an easy catch at short mid-wicket. Eshan lets out a loud roar as he and his teammates celebrate the big wicket.
Eshan Malinga smashed the third wicket stand, Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, ODI tri-series, Rawalpindi, October 18, 2026 Two wickets in two overs! A well-aimed rebound makes it easier for the low-lying, fine-legged fielder to catch. Saad tried to fire a shot but couldn’t make it as the shot flew off the outside of his bat.
Agha’s innings is over! It was in the slot and the shot was on. But Agha just can’t get the distance he needs to take on the underdog.
Shanaka is a very safe pair of hands and he doesn’t make a mistake. Salman Agha scores an 82-ball century, Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, ODI tri-series, Rawalpindi, October 18, 2026 Salman Agha celebrates his fourth ODI hundred, Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, ODI tri-series, Rawalpindi, October 18, 2026 Salman Agha and Hasan Nawaz scored 97 for the fifth wicket, Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, ODI tri-series, Rawalpindi, October 18, 2026 Great catch to break the stand! Asitha makes this one short, even though it doesn’t fall really high – about waist high. Nawaz hits the pull quite well but the height to clear the short wicket on middle isn’t quite there as Pavan Rathnayake stands up and takes a sharp overhead catch with both hands. Impossible to clear the infield!
This was full outside off. Arafat tries to create space and work out an offside position. He ends up squirting right on Kamindu at the back point.
Some relief for Sri Lanka after their steady winning run in the final overs. It was full and wide and Faheem reached out with a loud thump. Good edge off the bottom of the bat and Kusal takes an easy shot behind the stumps. Two for two for Malinga!
Oh this looked mighty close. It was complete and he caught Naseem right in the goal area. The only question is: is it moving too much?
Umpire thinks so. SL have reviewed . There is no bat involved and that is a big criticism as it is shown to hit the leg stump.
Full and deep throws, this time combined for a long collecting period. Shaheen looks to go back and strike but the throw is good as Malinga recovers and removes Rauf who falls well short. Pakistan are eliminated with 305 balls to spare. Salman Agha scores an 82-ball century, Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, ODI tri-series, Rawalpindi, October 18, 2026 Salman Agha scores his fourth ODI hundred, Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, ODI tri-series, Rawalpindi, October 18, 2026 Great catch to break the stand!
Asitha makes this one short, even though it doesn’t fall really high – about waist high. Nawaz hits the pull quite well but the height to clear the short wicket on middle isn’t quite there as Pavan Rathnayake stands up and takes a sharp overhead catch with both hands. Impossible to clear the infield! This was full outside off.
Arafat tries to create space and work out an offside position. He ends up squirting right on Kamindu at the back point. Some relief for Sri Lanka after their steady winning run in the final overs.
Agha’s innings is over! It was in the slot and the shot was on. But Agha just can’t get the distance he needs to take on the underdog.
Shanaka is a very safe couple and he doesn’t make mistakes. Dilshan Madushanka struck with the new ball, Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, ODI tri-series, Rawalpindi, October 18, 2026 This time it’s taken! Madushanka goes further and finishes with a low throw – another one that rises in the air – and once again Saim conspires to grab a leading edge which, much to the center’s surprise, bounces gently towards him to simply catch him forward. Saim wanted to bring this score into play. Madushanka returned the first two games!
This was hit shorter and seemed to have rushed Fakhar, who was late to the draw and ended up leading in the middle to take a fairly easy catch. Salman Agha and Hasan Nawaz reached 97 for the fifth wicket, Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, ODI tri-series, Rawalpindi, October 18, 2026. Eshan Malinga broke the stand for the third wicket, Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, ODI tri-series, Rawalpindi, October 18, 2026 Yes! This had been planned for some time and the trick finally paid off. It was all about perfect implementation, which SL managed this time.
Short and in his body and Babar is restricted in space and tries to pull it. Makes for an easy catch at short mid-wicket. Eshan lets out a loud roar as he and his teammates celebrate the big wicket.
Two wickets in two overs! A well-aimed rebound makes it easier for the low-lying, fine-legged fielder to catch. Saad tried to fire a shot but couldn’t make it as the shot flew off the outside of his bat.
It was full and wide and Faheem reached out with a loud thump. Good edge off the bottom of the bat and Kusal takes an easy shot behind the stumps. Two for two for Malinga! Oh this looked mighty close.
It was complete and he caught Naseem right in the goal area. The only question is: is it moving too much? Umpire thinks so.
SL have reviewed . There is no bat involved and that is a big criticism as it is shown to hit the leg stump. This time it’s taken!
Madushanka goes further and finishes with a low throw – another one that rises in the air – and once again Saim conspires to grab a leading edge which, much to the center’s surprise, bounces gently towards him to simply catch him forward. Saim tried to get that across to the other side. Dilshan Madushanka struck with the new ball, Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, ODI tri-series, Rawalpindi, October 18, 2026. Madushanka bowled out the first two openers! Celui-ci is more than frped and looks like she fell on Fakhar, she needs to be delayed in drawing and ending to fall back to the height of my course for an easy cture ace. Yes!
This had been planned for some time and the trick finally paid off. It was all about perfect implementation, which SL managed this time. Short and in his body and Babar is restricted in space and tries to pull it.
Makes for an easy catch at short mid-wicket. Eshan lets out a loud roar as he and his teammates celebrate the big wicket. Eshan Malinga smashed the third wicket stand, Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, ODI tri-series, Rawalpindi, October 18, 2026 Two wickets in two overs!
A well-aimed rebound makes it easier for the low-lying, fine-legged fielder to catch. Saad tried to fire a shot but couldn’t make it as the shot flew off the outside of his bat. Nice catch to break the stand!
Asitha makes this one short, even though it doesn’t fall really high – about waist high. Nawaz hits the pull quite well but the height to clear the short wicket on middle isn’t quite there as Pavan Rathnayake stands up and takes a sharp overhead catch with both hands. Impossible to clear the infield! This was full outside off.
Arafat tries to create space and work out an offside position. He ends up squirting right on Kamindu at the back point. Some relief for Sri Lanka after their steady winning run in the final overs.
Agha’s innings is over! It was in the slot and the shot was on. But Agha just can’t get the distance he needs to take on the underdog.
Shanaka is a very safe pair of hands and he doesn’t make a mistake. Salman Agha scores an 82-ball century, Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, ODI tri-series, Rawalpindi, October 18, 2026 Salman Agha celebrates his fourth ODI hundred, Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, ODI tri-series, Rawalpindi, October 18, 2026 Salman Agha and Hasan Nawaz scored 97 for the fifth wicket, Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, ODI tri-series, Rawalpindi, October 18, 2026 Sliced and gone! It was full and wide and Faheem reached out with a loud thump. Good edge off the bottom of the bat and Kusal takes an easy shot behind the stumps. Two for two for Malinga!
Oh this looked mighty close. It was complete and he caught Naseem right in the goal area. The only question is: is it moving too much?
Umpire thinks so. SL have reviewed . There is no bat involved and that is a big criticism as it is shown to hit the leg stump.
Full and deep throws, this time combined for a long collecting period. Shaheen looks to go back and strike but the throw is good as Malinga recovers and removes Rauf who falls well short. Pakistan are bowled out for 305. And now they’re throwing it away!
I start the journey again, but it’s not quite complete yet. To be honest, the shot was propriate in the middle of the ring. But Kamindu doesn’t seem to fully commit to this overhead training and ultimately only gives the man in the ring one chance. In the air it was caught by Faheem Ashraf after it bounced off the gloves of Saad Baig.
Naseem hits it short and Fernando plays a half-hearted shot but misses it. Saad needs to cover the ground and run left to get under it. He gets there but the ball comes out of his gloves but Faheem saves the day.
Faheem Ashraf saves Saad Baig’s blush, Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, ODI tri-series, Rawalpindi, October 18, 2026 The length ball continues and it burns straight into Ayub’s stomach and this time he takes the catch. A hint of movement and Mendis looked a little nervous today dealing with the balls outside his off-stump. He throws his bat at it, but can’t find the G.
Big blow for Sri Lanka. Faheem Ashraf took the wicket of Kusal Mendis, Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, ODI tri-series, Rawalpindi, October 18, 2026. Here he gifted Pakistan his wicket on a platter. The length ball continued and he pushed it straight into the hands of the short cover fielder.
This is a big step forward for Pakistan at this stage of the game. Pavan Rathnayake crossed 50 for the second time in ODIs, Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, ODI tri-series, Rawalpindi, October 18, 2026. However, this one takes the lead! Fantastic bowling from Shaheen!
Length ball, inclined inward and straightened along the line from the seam. Too good for Arachchige, who is right, he didn’t have an answer to that question. And Rauf holds on! Finish Liyanage’s stumps and holes too long as he drives this ball up.
I should have tried to finish that game but we have a match in Rawalpindi. Shaheen Afridi takes three important wickets, Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, ODI tri-series, Rawalpindi, October 18, 2026 Janith Liyanage gets a blow by reaching fifty, Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, ODI tri-series, Rawalpindi, October 18, 2026 And that may have just sealed the game for Pakistan! peared to hit the full ball long into Babar’s stumps but the shot didn’t have enough power to get it over the ropes.
An easy catch for Babar that catches him just below the throat. He hits it a length and drives it away from the striker, who follows the ball and eventually directs it towards the goalkeeper. Pakistan is getting closer and closer to victory.
The situation for SL continues to worsen. Push the long ball toward the fielder’s center and both batters somehow end up in the middle of the field. Babar had all the time in the world to decide whether to throw the ball to the non-striker’s side or to Saad at the batting end.
He chooses the latter solution and the goalkeeper hits the balls after winning the ball back. Pakistan finished the game winning the first game of the Tri-Nations series by 37 runs. Rauf angles the long ball up from the wicket, rattling the stumps as the batsman misses a touch towards the deep third. And now he’s throwing it away!
I start the journey again, but it’s not quite complete yet. To be honest, the shot was propriate in the middle of the ring. But Kamindu doesn’t seem to fully commit to this high drive and ends up giving the man in the ring an easy chance. However, this one takes advantage!
Fantastic bowling from Shaheen! Length ball, inclined inward and straightened along the line from the seam. It’s a shame for Arachchige because he doesn’t have an answer. And that could have decided the game for Pakistan!
peared to hit the full ball long into Babar’s stumps but the shot didn’t have enough power to get it over the ropes. An easy catch for Babar that catches him just below the throat. Faheem Ashraf saves Saad Baig’s blush, Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, ODI tri-series, Rawalpindi, October 18, 2026. In the air and caught by Faheem Ashraf after bouncing off Saad Baig’s gloves.
Naseem hits it short and Fernando plays a half-hearted shot but misses it. Saad needs to cover the ground and run left to get under it. He gets there but the ball comes out of his gloves but Faheem saves the day.
He hits it a length and drives it away from the striker, who follows the ball and eventually directs it towards the goalkeeper. Pakistan is getting closer and closer to victory. Shaheen Afridi picks three important wickets, Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, ODI Tri-Series, Rawalpindi, October 18, 2026 and Rauf delivers!
Finish Liyanage’s stumps and holes too long as he drives this ball up. I should have tried to finish that game but we have a match in Rawalpindi. Pakistan finished the game winning the first game of the Tri-Nations series by 37 runs.
Rauf steers the long ball up over the wicket, rattling the stumps as the batsman misses a shot towards deep third. Faheem Ashraf took the wicket of Kusal Mendis, Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, ODI tri-series, Rawalpindi, October 18, 2026. The long ball back and it is etched right into Ayub’s stomach and this time he takes the catch. A hint of movement and Mendis looked a little nervous today dealing with the balls outside his off-stump. He throws his bat at it, but can’t find the G.
Big blow for Sri Lanka. Here he offered his wicket to Pakistan on a platter. The length ball continued and he pushed it straight into the hands of the short cover fielder.
This is a big step forward for Pakistan at this stage of the game. Pavan Rathnayake crosses 50 for the second time in ODIs, Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, ODI tri-series, Rawalpindi, October 18, 2026 Janith Liyanage strikes as he reaches 50, Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, ODI tri-series, Rawalpindi, October 18, 2026 In the air, it is caught by Faheem Ashraf after it falls off the gloves of Saad Baig rebounds. Naseem hits it short and Fernando plays a half-hearted shot but misses it.
Saad needs to cover the ground and run left to get under it. He gets there but the ball comes out of his gloves but Faheem saves the day. Faheem Ashraf saves Saad Baig’s blush, Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, ODI tri-series, Rawalpindi, October 18, 2026 The length ball continues and it burns straight into Ayub’s stomach and this time he takes the catch.
A hint of movement and Mendis looked a little nervous today dealing with the balls outside his off-stump. He throws his bat at it, but can’t find the G. Big blow for Sri Lanka.
Faheem Ashraf took the wicket of Kusal Mendis, Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, ODI tri-series, Rawalpindi, October 18, 2026. And now he throws it away! I start the journey again, but it’s not quite complete yet. To be honest, the shot was propriate in the middle of the ring.
But Kamindu doesn’t seem to fully commit to this high drive and ends up giving the man in the ring an easy chance. However, this one takes advantage! Fantastic bowling from Shaheen! Length ball, inclined inward and straightened along the line from the seam.
Too good for Arachchige, who is right, he didn’t have an answer to that question. Here he offered his wicket to Pakistan on a platter. The length ball continued and he pushed it straight into the hands of the short cover fielder. This is a big step forward for Pakistan at this stage of the game.
Pavan Rathnayake crosses 50 for the second time in ODIs, Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, ODI tri-series, Rawalpindi, October 18, 2026 And Rauf delivers! Finish Liyanage’s stumps and holes too long as he drives this ball up. I should have tried to finish that game but we have a match in Rawalpindi.
Shaheen Afridi takes three important wickets, Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, ODI tri-series, Rawalpindi, October 18, 2026 Janith Liyanage gets a blow by reaching fifty, Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, ODI tri-series, Rawalpindi, October 18, 2026 And that may have just sealed the game for Pakistan! peared to hit the full ball long into Babar’s stumps but the shot didn’t have enough power to get it over the ropes. An easy catch for Babar that catches him just below the throat.
He hits it a length and drives it away from the striker, who follows the ball and eventually directs it towards the goalkeeper. Pakistan is getting closer and closer to victory. The situation for SL continues to worsen.
Push the long ball toward the fielder’s center and both batters somehow end up in the middle of the field. Babar had all the time in the world to decide whether to throw the ball to the non-striker’s side or to Saad at the batting end. He chooses the latter solution and the goalkeeper hits the balls after winning the ball back.
Pakistan finished the game winning the first game of the Tri-Nations series by 37 runs. Rauf angles the length ball up from the wicket and rattles the stumps as the batsman misses a shot towards the deep third. Salman Agha celebrates reaching his fourth ODI hundred, Pakistan v Sri Lanka, ODI tri-series, Rawalpindi, October 18, 2026 Harry Brook, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Kusal Mendis with the series trophy, Rawalpindi, October 17, 2026 Babar Azam and Arafat Minhas offer Pakistan reasons for omism as Sri Lanka continues its search for an established combination. Arafat Minhas walks away after his first five-wicket win, Pakistan v Australia, 1st ODI, Rawalpindi, May 30, 2026. Salman Agha celebrates his fourth ODI hundred, Pakistan v Sri Lanka, ODI tri-series, Rawalpindi, October 18, 2026. Babar Azam and Arafat Minhas offer reasons for omism in Pakistan as Sri Lanka continues the search for an established combination, Arafat Minhas retires after his five-wicket debut, Pakistan vs Australia, 1st ODI, Rawalpindi, May 30, 2026 ODI Tri-Series (PAK) 2026/27, PAK vs SL 1st Match Match Preview – Pakistan and Sri Lanka try to find the right mix as the countdown to the World Cup begins. ODI Tri-Series (PAK) Pakistan vs Sri Lanka 2026/27 Match Preview: Babar Azam and Arafat Minhas give Pakistan reasons for omism as Sri Lanka continue to look for an established combination. Babar Azam and Arafat Minhas give Pakistan reasons to be unhpy as Sri Lanka continue their search for an established combination.
