Pakistan vs Sri Lanka ODI Tri-Series Opener: Shaheen Afridi Leads New-Look Side as Rawalpindi Hosts First Match

RAWALPINDI: Pakistan and Sri Lanka launch the seven-match ODI tri-series at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Sunday, 18 October, with the toss at 12:30 PM PKT and the first ball at 1:00 PM PKT in a day-night fixture, as three teams begin a fortnight of 50-over cricket building toward the 2027 ICC Men's Cricket World Cup.

Match Details: When and Where

The series opener is the first of three matches at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium before the action moves to Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. Sunday's game is a day-night ODI: the toss is at 12:30 PM PKT and play begins at 1:00 PM PKT. In Pakistan, the match airs live on PTV Sports HD and Geo Super, with digital streaming on Tapmad and Tamasha; Sri Lankan viewers can follow on Siyatha TV and Dialog TV, while Indian audiences get coverage on the Sony Sports network with streaming on SonyLIV and FanCode.

Pakistan's Squad: Afridi Leads a New-Look ODI Unit

Shaheen Shah Afridi captains Pakistan's 16-member ODI squad, named by the PCB earlier this month. The squad blends proven white-ball names with emerging talent: Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Salman Ali Agha, Saim Ayub and Hasan Nawaz in the batting group; Haris Rauf and Naseem Shah leading the pace attack; Abrar Ahmed and Sufiyan Moqim the spin options; Shadab Khan, Faheem Ashraf, Arafat Minhas and Razaullah offering all-round depth; and two wicketkeepers in Muhammad Ghazi Ghori and Saad Baig. It is a different-looking unit from the T20I side that beat Sri Lanka 2-1 at this same venue earlier this week, and the opener is the first real look at Afridi's ODI blueprint.

Sri Lanka's Squad: Mendis Captains, Asalanka Axed

Kusal Mendis leads Sri Lanka's 16-member squad, announced by Sri Lanka Cricket on 5 October. The headline call is the omission of former captain Charith Asalanka, dropped after scores of 1, 11 and 7 during the ODI leg of Sri Lanka's recent tour of England. In his place returns opener Avishka Fernando for his first ODI since February 2025, recalled after two domestic centuries and 447 runs as the leading scorer in the Major Clubs Limited Over Tournament. Opening batter Pathum Nissanka is in the squad but will only travel if declared medically fit. The spin attack is anchored by Maheesh Theekshana with Dunith Wellalage and wrist-spinner Sachindu Colombage, while Dushmantha Chameera, Asitha Fernando, Dilshan Madushanka and Eshan Malinga form the pace unit, with Dasun Shanaka adding all-round balance.

The Tri-Series Format and What Follows

The tournament is a double round-robin: each of the three teams plays the other two twice, six league matches in all, with the top two sides meeting in the final at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, on 31 October. Rawalpindi hosts the first three games — Pakistan v Sri Lanka on the 18th, Pakistan v England on the 20th and Sri Lanka v England on the 22nd — before Lahore takes over from 25 October. England, captained by Harry Brook, arrive with Adil Rashid and Sam Curran back from injury and Mason Crane recalled after nearly nine years, with Jofra Archer rested. For all three sides the series is officially preparation for the 2027 World Cup, to be hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia. Pakistan staged a similar exercise in February 2025, hosting New Zealand and South Africa in a three-team ODI series ahead of the Champions Trophy. After the tri-series, Sri Lanka stay on for a three-day warm-up in Islamabad (4-6 November) and then two Tests against Pakistan — 9-13 November in Rawalpindi and 17-21 November in Lahore — that count toward the ICC World Test Championship 2025-27.

What to Watch on Sunday

The opener carries the residue of this week's T20I series: Pakistan took the series 2-1 but Sri Lanka signed off with an eight-wicket win on Tuesday, chasing 172 with Kusal Mendis unbeaten on 87 — a reminder the visitors will not be overawed at this ground. For Pakistan, the storyline is the ODI reset under a new captain, with Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman's roles in Afridi's plans under early scrutiny. For Sri Lanka, the Nissanka fitness question shapes the top order, and the spin trio of Theekshana, Wellalage and Colombage against Pakistan's middle order could decide how the 50 overs unfold. A day-night game at Rawalpindi in October usually means something for both seam and spin — the first hour under lights may be the most telling passage of the series opener.

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