World Cup Countdown Begins in Rawalpindi
Pakistan and Sri Lanka open the ODI tri-series 2026-27 on Sunday, October 18, 2026, in Rawalpindi, with both sides treating the series as the starting gun for their World Cup preparations. The World Cup is now officially less than a year away — set to begin on October 2 next year — and neither team arrives with a settled combination.
Big Picture: Two Teams Searching for Answers
Sri Lanka begin the series on the back of a rare bright spot: an international victory within the past week, sealed by new captain Kusal Mendis with an unbeaten 87 off 48 balls after an encouraging outing from the seamers. It was only a dead-rubber T20I — Pakistan had already wrapped up that series — but for a side whose 2026 reads 10 wins against 22 defeats, any win matters.
Pakistan have had the better of 2026 by a clear distance. Their most recent ODI assignment ended in a 2-1 series win over Australia, and it may have unearthed a genuine find: young left-arm spinner and lower-order batter Arafat Minhas, who took seven wickets at 12.28 to claim the Player of the Series award. Minhas has stayed hot, collecting five wickets across the three T20Is against Sri Lanka in the past ten days. In the Australia series, Pakistan’s bowlers ran the show in low-scoring games, with Shaheen Afridi and legspinner Abrar Ahmed also excelling.
For Sri Lanka, the flux continues. A new selection panel has spent the year hunting — often fruitlessly — for a winning white-ball combination. Pakistan, meanwhile, have players to trial and strategies to test before the World Cup year.
Players to Watch
Babar Azam (Pakistan): Top-scorer for Pakistan against Australia with 40, 16 and 69 at an average of 41.66 — modest by his standards, but an encouraging uptick after averaging 34 across 17 innings in 2025. Sri Lanka have historically been one of his favourite opponents: four of his 20 ODI centuries have come against them, at an average of 58.33. And Rawalpindi has been kind to him — the last time these sides met, in November last year, he made 29, 102 not out and 34, all at this venue. With batting-friendly tracks expected, this could be the series where his one remaining format clicks back into gear.
Lahiru Udara (Sri Lanka): At 32, possibly playing for his international future. Dropped from the Test squad despite a 188 against West Indies three Tests ago, he has forced his way into ODI contention after Pathum Nissanka was ruled out with an ongoing hamstring problem and a strong T20I innings last week. Remarkably, he has never played an ODI — with the World Cup on the horizon, there may never be a better stage to announce himself.
Arafat Minhas (Pakistan): The breakout star of the Australia series. If his left-arm spin keeps biting, Sri Lanka’s unsettled batting order could be in for a long day.
Team News
Pakistan’s likely XI sees Saim Ayub and Fakhar Zaman opening, with neither Sahibzada Farhan nor Maaz Sadaqat in the ODI squad. Hasan Nawaz, Babar Azam, Salman Ali Agha, Shadab Khan and wicketkeeper Ghazi Ghouri form the middle order, followed by Minhas, captain Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf and Naseem Shah.
Sri Lanka may hand Avishka Fernando an immediate recall after Kamil Mishara’s run of modest scores. On the spin front, Maheesh Theekshana is expected to get the nod over legspinner Sachindu Colombage. Their possible XI: Lahiru Udara, Avishka Fernando, Kusal Mendis (captain, wk), Kamindu Mendis, Sahan Arachchige or Pavan Rathnayake, Janith Liyanage, Dasun Shanaka, Dunith Wellalage, Dushmantha Chameera, Eshan Malinga, Maheesh Theekshana and Asitha Fernando.
Pitch and Conditions
Rawalpindi surfaces have tended to favour batters, and with short boundaries in play, runs should flow. The weather forecast is fine, with temperatures in the mid-to-low 20s — ideal October cricket weather.
Head-to-Head
Recent history heavily favours the hosts: since 2019, Pakistan have won all five of their home ODIs against Sri Lanka, including three in Rawalpindi. Form guide across the last five completed matches reads Pakistan WLWLW, Sri Lanka LWLWL.
What to Expect
Pakistan start as clear favourites — home conditions, a settled bowling attack, and a batting lineup with Babar finding touch again. But tri-series openers have a habit of springing surprises, and Sri Lanka’s new-ball attack showed enough last week to suggest they will not roll over. For both teams, though, the real prize is bigger than one game: with the World Cup countdown officially under twelve months, every selection call from here carries weight.
Source: ESPNcricinfo match preview by Andrew Fidel Fernando. Photo: Nazly Ahmed via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0) — Asitha Fernando bowling to Babar Azam, Colombo 2023.
