The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced the men’s squads for Pakistan’s upcoming home assignments against Sri Lanka and the ODI tri-series featuring England and Sri Lanka. The announcement on 5 October 2026 comes shortly after Pakistan’s men’s cricket campaign at the Asian Games.
Sahibzada Farhan has been appointed captain for the three-match T20I series against Sri Lanka, while Shaheen Shah Afridi will continue as Pakistan’s ODI captain for the tri-series. The changes allow Farhan to lead the national side in T20Is, while Shaheen continues to oversee the 50-over team.
Pakistan T20I Squad vs Sri Lanka
Pakistan have selected a 15-member squad for the three-match T20I series:
- Sahibzada Farhan (captain)
- Abdul Samad
- Abrar Ahmed
- Arafat Minhas
- Fakhar Zaman
- Hasan Nawaz
- Muhammad Imran Randhawa
- Khawaja Nafay (wicketkeeper)
- Maaz Sadaqat
- Naseem Shah
- Razaullah
- Saim Ayub
- Mohammad Salman Mirza
- Shadab Khan
- Sufiyan Moqim
Farhan’s appointment is one of the main talking points. The right-handed opener recently led Pakistan at the Asian Games and will now take charge of the senior T20I side against Sri Lanka.
Pakistan ODI Squad for the Tri-Series
Pakistan’s 16-member ODI squad is
- Shaheen Shah Afridi (captain)
- Abrar Ahmed
- Salman Ali Agha
- Arafat Minhas
- Babar Azam
- Faheem Ashraf
- Fakhar Zaman
- Muhammad Ghazi Ghori (wicketkeeper)
- Haris Rauf
- Hasan Nawaz
- Naseem Shah
- Razaullah
- Saad Baig (wicketkeeper)
- Saim Ayub
- Shadab Khan
- Sufiyan Moqim
The ODI squad combines established names such as Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah, and Shadab Khan with younger players looking to establish themselves in international cricket.
Pakistan vs. Sri Lanka T20I Schedule
All three T20Is will be played at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.
| Match | Date | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 1st T20I | 9 October 2026 | Rawalpindi |
| 2nd T20I | 11 October 2026 | Rawalpindi |
| 3rd T20I | 13 October 2026 | Rawalpindi |
The series will be the first part of Sri Lanka’s multi-format tour of Pakistan.
ODI Tri-Series With England and Sri Lanka
After the T20I series, Pakistan will join England and Sri Lanka in a seven-match ODI tri-series. The tournament includes six league matches followed by a final.
The first three matches will be played in Rawalpindi before the tournament moves to Lahore.
Full ODI Tri-Series Schedule
| Match | Date | Fixture | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 18 October | Pakistan vs Sri Lanka | Rawalpindi |
| 2nd | 20 October | Pakistan vs England | Rawalpindi |
| 3rd | 22 October | Sri Lanka vs England | Rawalpindi |
| 4th | 25 October | Pakistan vs England | Lahore |
| 5th | 27 October | Pakistan vs Sri Lanka | Lahore |
| 6th | 29 October | Sri Lanka vs England | Lahore |
| Final | 31 October | TBC vs TBC | Lahore |
The tournament is also important preparation for the 2027 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, according to the ICC.
Pakistan vs. Sri Lanka: T20I Head-to-Head History
Pakistan and Sri Lanka have developed a long rivalry in T20I cricket. Before the upcoming October 2026 series, the two sides have completed 30 men’s T20Is.
Pakistan has won 18 of those matches, while Sri Lanka has won 12. There have been no ties or no results in the completed head-to-head record currently listed for the rivalry.
The most recent completed men’s T20I between the sides was the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Super Eight match in Kandy on 28 February. Pakistan scored 212/8 and defeated Sri Lanka by five runs after Sri Lanka reached 207/6. Sahibzada Farhan was the standout performer, scoring 100 from 60 balls.
The rivalry has also produced important tournament matches. Pakistan defeated Sri Lanka in the 2009 ICC World Twenty20 final at Lord’s, winning by eight wickets. Sri Lanka later defeated Pakistan in the 2012 World Twenty20 semi-final. These encounters helped establish the fixture as one of the notable Asian rivalries in the shortest format.
The recent record has also remained competitive. In January 2026, the teams met in a three-match T20I series in Sri Lanka. Pakistan won the first match, and Sri Lanka won the second, while the third scheduled game was abandoned before completion. Pakistan then beat Sri Lanka again in the February 2026 T20 World Cup encounter.
T20I Head-to-Head
- Matches: 30
- Pakistan wins: 18
- Sri Lanka wins: 12
- Ties: 0
- No results: 0
The October 2026 three-match series gives both sides another opportunity to change that record.
Pakistan vs Sri Lanka: ODI Head-to-Head History
The ODI rivalry is considerably longer. Pakistan and Sri Lanka have played 160 men’s ODIs before the upcoming 2026 tri-series.
Pakistan has won 96, while Sri Lanka has won 59. One match ended in a tie, and four produced no results.
Pakistan’s advantage in the 50-over format has developed over several decades. The teams first met in ODI cricket in the early 1980s, and their rivalry has included bilateral series, Asia Cup encounters, and Cricket World Cup matches.
One of the memorable ODI meetings came in the 2014 Asia Cup final, when Sri Lanka defeated Pakistan by five wickets to win the tournament. Pakistan had posted 260 after Fawad Alam’s unbeaten 114 and Misbah-ul-Haq’s 65, but Sri Lanka successfully chased the target.
Another major encounter came during the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup in Hyderabad. Sri Lanka posted 344/9, but Pakistan chased the target with six wickets remaining, reaching 345/4.
More recently, Pakistan dominated the three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka in November 2025. Pakistan won all three games: by six runs in the first ODI, eight wickets in the second, and six wickets in the third. The 3-0 sweep was Pakistan’s third ODI series sweep against Sri Lanka.
ODI Head-to-Head
- Matches: 160
- Pakistan wins: 96
- Sri Lanka wins: 59
- Ties: 1
- No results: 4
This record gives Pakistan the historical advantage, although the upcoming tri-series introduces a different challenge because England will also be involved.
Pakistan’s Team Management
The PCB has also confirmed the management group for the upcoming assignments.
- Manager: Naveed Akram Cheema
- Head coach: Mike Hesson
- Bowling coach: Shaun Tait
- Batting coach: Michael Smith
- Fielding coach: Mansoor Amjad
- Physiotherapist: Muhammad Tahir
- Strength & conditioning coach: Grant Luden
- T20I team analyst: Nabeel Edger Pace
- Tri-series team analyst: Usman Hashmi
- Media manager, Rawalpindi leg: Shafqat Shabbir
- Media manager, Lahore leg: Syed Nazir Ahmed
- Security manager: Col. Usman Anwari
- Team doctor: Dr. Wajid Ali Rafai
- Masseur: Muhammad Ehsan
The separate analysts for the T20I series and ODI tri-series reflect the different requirements of the two assignments.
Why the Upcoming Series Matters
The Sri Lanka T20Is provide Pakistan with an immediate opportunity to assess the new T20 leadership under Sahibzada Farhan. The three matches are also valuable preparation for Pakistan’s wider T20 plans.
The ODI tri-series carries a different importance. Pakistan will face both Sri Lanka and England in a competitive 50-over tournament, giving the team several opportunities to test combinations before the 2027 Cricket World Cup.
For Shaheen Shah Afridi, the tournament is another opportunity to develop as ODI captain. The presence of experienced players such as Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah, and Shadab Khan gives the side a mixture of experience and versatility.
Final Thoughts
Pakistan’s October 2026 home assignments feature a combination of new leadership, established players, and important preparation for future international tournaments.
Sahibzada Farhan will lead the T20I side against Sri Lanka from 9 to 13 October, while Shaheen Shah Afridi will captain Pakistan in the ODI tri-series against Sri Lanka and England from 18 to 31 October.
Historically, Pakistan holds the advantage against Sri Lanka in both white-ball formats. Pakistan led the men’s T20I head-to-head 18-12 and the ODI record 96-59, with one ODI tie and four no-results.
The upcoming matches, however, will be about more than records. They will allow Pakistan to test new combinations, build leadership depth, and strengthen preparations for the next major international challenges.
FAQs: Pakistan ODI Tri-Series 2026
Q1: Which teams are participating in the 2026 Pakistan ODI Tri-Series?
A: The tri-series features hosts Pakistan alongside England and Sri Lanka.
Q2: What are the dates and venues for the ODI Tri-Series?
A: The series takes place from October 18 to October 31, 2026, with matches scheduled at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium and Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore.
Q3: Why is the Pakistan Tri-Series critical for the 2027 ICC World Cup?
A: This series serves as vital preparation and a team-building platform for all three nations leading into the 2027 ICC Cricket World Cup, providing competitive 50-over experience against top international sides.
Q4: Who are the team captains for the series?
A: Pakistan is led by Shaheen Shah Afridi, England by Harry Brook, and Sri Lanka by Kusal Mendis.
Q5: How many total matches will be played in the tournament?
A: The tournament comprises 7 ODIs in total, including six round-robin matches followed by the final on October 31, 2026.
