Pakistan vs Sri Lanka meet in the final league fixture of the ODI tri-series at Gaddafi Stadium Lahore on Tuesday, with the hosts already through to the final and expected to reshuffle their playing XI. The match begins at 1pm Pakistan Standard Time.
Squad changes and top-order concerns
Left-handed opener Saim Ayub was released from the squad on Monday after sustained poor form and has been replaced by Sahibzada Farhan. Farhan had captained Pakistan’s T20 side to a 2-1 series win over Sri Lanka in Rawalpindi and was in strong form then, but the ODI party had been named earlier, keeping him out until now. He could play on Tuesday. Maaz Sadqat, another hard-hitting left-hand opener, is also in the group as cover for players with minor niggles.
Pakistan posted totals above 300 in their first two games against Sri Lanka and England, yet the top order remains a worry. Fakhar Zaman has managed only 26 runs in three matches. Babar Azam, Pakistan’s Test captain, failed to turn solid starts into big scores in the first two games and was out for ten against England on Sunday.
That Sunday contest still went Pakistan’s way by one wicket, largely through Shadab Khan’s maiden ODI hundred. Commentators around the side have urged the team to push Agha Salman higher, given his current form and the need for more stability early in the innings. Hasan Nawaz, Arafat Minhas and Shadab are among the batters Sri Lanka must contain.
Bowling picture and pitch
Naseem Shah, who dislocated a finger on his left hand, is unlikely to return. Young paceman Razaullah impressed on debut against England with figures of 2-38. At Gaddafi Stadium on Sunday the surface helped the quicks, and Shaheen Shah Afridi took 4-46 after earlier figures of 3-55 against Sri Lanka in the series. With the final fixed for 31 October, Tuesday’s outing is widely seen as a chance for Pakistan to fine-tune combinations rather than chase a result they already need.
What Sri Lanka need
For Sri Lanka the game is decisive: a win would lock their place in the final against Pakistan. A defeat would leave England with one more route, when they face the islanders in the last league match on Thursday.
Sri Lanka arrive in high batting confidence after chasing 430 against England—the second-highest successful chase in ODI history. Pavan Rathnayake scored 130, with Avishka Fernando and Dasun Shanaka each on 97 and Janith Liyanage 61. That performance underlined their preparation for the 2027 ODI World Cup, but they must still bowl tightly against Pakistan’s in-form middle order and all-rounders.
Timeline: what has happened so far
- 18 October: In the opening ODI of the tri-series at Rawalpindi, Sri Lanka removed Babar Azam during Pakistan’s innings.
- Sunday: Pakistan beat England by one wicket; Shadab Khan scored his first ODI century; Razaullah took 2-38 on debut; Shaheen Shah Afridi finished with 4-46 as the Lahore pitch aided pace.
- Monday: Saim Ayub was released from the squad and Sahibzada Farhan was brought in.
- Tuesday: Pakistan vs Sri Lanka at Gaddafi Stadium Lahore, 1pm PST—Pakistan’s last league game, already assured of a final place.
- Thursday: England play Sri Lanka if the islanders fail to qualify today.
- 31 October: Tri-series final, with Pakistan already booked in.
Aasan alfaaz mein
Pakistan aaj Lahore ke Gaddafi Stadium mein Sri Lanka se khelega, match 1 baje din ko shuru hoga. Saim Ayub form ki wajah se squad se nikal diye gaye hain aur unki jagah Sahibzada Farhan aa gaye hain. Pakistan final ke liye pehle hi qualify kar chuka hai; Sri Lanka ko final mein pohanchne ke liye aaj jeet chahiye. Fans TV ya stadium se dekh sakte hain—yeh hosts ke liye zyada tar final se pehle practice jaisa mauqa hai.
