Three teams, seven dates, and only two of them will play on the last night.
The Pakistan ODI Tri-Series 2026 brings England and Sri Lanka to Rawalpindi and Lahore between 18 and 31 October. Pakistan hosted a triangular ODI event last year too, so this is the second one in a row.
Below you will find every fixture, a team-by-team view, and a plain explanation of how the final is decided.
Tri-Series at a Glance
The Pakistan Cricket Board announced the dates in August. Six league games lead to a final, and each team plays four times before the knockout stage.
| Detail | Information |
| Teams | Pakistan, Sri Lanka, England |
| Dates | 18 to 31 October 2026 |
| League matches | 6 |
| Final | 31 October, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore |
| Venues | Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Gaddafi Stadium |
The event follows three T20Is between Pakistan and Sri Lanka in Rawalpindi. After the final, Sri Lanka stays for a warm-up match and two Tests.
England is only in Pakistan for the tri-series. It does not play the T20Is or the Tests on this schedule.
The Full Fixture List
Here is the complete list in date order. Each match is an ODI.
| Match | Date | Fixture | Venue |
| 1st | Sunday, 18 October | Pakistan v Sri Lanka | Rawalpindi |
| 2nd | Tuesday, 20 October | Pakistan v England | Rawalpindi |
| 3rd | Thursday, 22 October | Sri Lanka v England | Rawalpindi |
| 4th | Sunday, 25 October | Pakistan v England | Lahore |
| 5th | Tuesday, 27 October | Pakistan v Sri Lanka | Lahore |
| 6th | Thursday, 29 October | Sri Lanka v England | Lahore |
| Final | Saturday, 31 October | Top two teams | Lahore |
Every pairing appears twice, once at each ground. That keeps the event balanced, since no team plays two games against the same side at the same venue.
The days follow a clean pattern of Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday for the league games. The final lands on a Saturday, which is good news for anyone with a day job.
The Rawalpindi Leg
The opening three matches are all at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. Each team plays at least once, and Pakistan plays twice.
- 18 October: Pakistan v Sri Lanka
- 20 October: Pakistan v England
- 22 October: Sri Lanka v England
Pakistan starts the series against Sri Lanka, a side it will also face in the T20Is a few days earlier. England does not take the field until the second match.
That late start gives England two extra days after the first game to settle. By the time it plays, Pakistan will already have a result on the board.
The Rawalpindi leg is also the shorter one. Three games fit into five days, with one day off between each match.
The Lahore Leg
After a two-day gap, the tournament moves to Gaddafi Stadium. All three teams make the trip for the second half.
- 25 October: Pakistan v England
- 27 October: Pakistan v Sri Lanka
- 29 October: Sri Lanka v England
Lahore mirrors the first leg. Every pairing from Rawalpindi returns here, in a slightly different order.
The third Lahore game, between Sri Lanka and England, is the last league match. It could decide a place in the final, so it may be the most watched game before the finale.
The Final on 31 October
The two best teams after the league stage meet on Saturday, 31 October at Gaddafi Stadium. The final is the only match in the event without confirmed teams yet.
There are three possible pairings:
- Pakistan v Sri Lanka
- Pakistan v England
- Sri Lanka v England
Any one of them would be a rematch of a league game. A final between two teams that have already met twice gives both sides plenty of information to use.
The sources I checked do not describe how ties on points are broken. Wait for the official playing conditions before you plan around that detail.
Team-by-Team Schedule
Fans often follow one side. Here is each team’s path through the league stage.
| Team | Game 1 | Game 2 | Game 3 | Game 4 |
| Pakistan | 18 Oct v Sri Lanka | 20 Oct v England | 25 Oct v England | 27 Oct v Sri Lanka |
| Sri Lanka | 18 Oct v Pakistan | 22 Oct v England | 27 Oct v Pakistan | 29 Oct v England |
| England | 20 Oct v Pakistan | 22 Oct v Sri Lanka | 25 Oct v Pakistan | 29 Oct v Sri Lanka |
Pakistan finishes its league games on 27 October. It then has to watch Sri Lanka and England play on 29 October to learn whether it has qualified.
That is an awkward spot for a host team. Two days of waiting can feel long, especially if the table is tight.
England has the lightest early load, playing no game in the first two days. Its final league match, though, is against a rested Sri Lanka side.
How the Format Works
The structure is simple. Each team plays the other two teams twice, which gives four league games per side.
After six league matches, the top two teams advance. The third-placed team is out, and the final goes ahead without it.
- Three teams play a double round-robin
- Six league matches produce a table
- The top two sides meet in the final
- The final is at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
With only four games each, one slip can be costly. A single loss may not end a campaign, but two losses probably will.
Triangular series were once a regular part of ODI cricket. Seeing one back on the calendar is a pleasant change, and I hope more boards try the idea.
Gaps Between Games
Rest matters in a short event. The schedule alternates between one-day gaps and longer breaks.
- Pakistan: one day between games 1 and 2, four days between 2 and 3, one day between 3 and 4
- Sri Lanka: three days, then four days, then one day
- England: one day, then two days, then three days
Sri Lanka and Pakistan each get a four-day break in the middle of the event. That can help or hurt, depending on whether a team uses the time for training or loses its rhythm.
Pakistan’s one-day turnaround before the 27 October match is among the tightest of its schedule. A seamer bowling ten overs on the 25th will not want another long spell on the 27th.
The schedule is fairly generous to England. It never plays on consecutive days, and it gets three days off before its last league game.
Match Timings
Sources disagree on the tri-series start times. Cricinfo lists 9:30 am local, while other outlets list 2:00 pm.
If the Cricinfo time is right, fans in India will see the first ball at 10:00 am. If the afternoon time is right, the same game starts at 2:30 pm in India.
I would trust the official Pakistan Cricket Board update for the final word. A one-line check on the morning of the match saves a lot of confusion.
What to Watch
The numbers are tidy, but the cricket will decide the story. Here are three things I would watch.
The opening match
Pakistan and Sri Lanka will have played three T20Is by the time the tri-series starts. The ODI on 18 October tells us whether those games meant anything.
The Lahore turn
Every team travels after 22 October. Fresh conditions at Gaddafi Stadium will reward the side that adapts fastest.
The last league game
Sri Lanka versus England on 29 October could set the final lineup. Pakistan will be watching from its hotel room.
Tips for Following the Series
A short event is easy to miss if you check in late. A few habits keep you on top of it.
- Save the three key dates: 18 October, 25 October, and 31 October
- Follow one team’s path first, then add the other two
- Check the points table after each match, since only four games per side means every result counts
- Look for the official start time on the morning of each game
Sunday games suit casual viewers, because most people are free that day. The Tuesday and Thursday matches reward fans who can find a spare hour.
If you can only watch one match from each leg, pick the opener in Rawalpindi and the final league game in Lahore. Those two tell you the most about where the series is heading.
Key Takeaways
- Dates: 18 to 31 October 2026
- Teams: Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and England
- League stage: six matches, four per team
- Final: 31 October at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
- Venues: Rawalpindi for matches 1 to 3, Lahore for matches 4 to 6 and the final
- Timing check: start times differ between sources, so confirm with the PCB
FAQs
How many matches are in the Pakistan ODI Tri-Series 2026?
There are six league matches plus a final, which makes seven games in total.
When is the first match?
Pakistan plays Sri Lanka on Sunday, 18 October at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.
Who qualifies for the final?
The top two teams after the league stage qualify.
Where is the final?
The final is at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Saturday, 31 October.
Which team plays the last league match?
Sri Lanka and England meet at Gaddafi Stadium on Thursday, 29 October.
Conclusion
The Pakistan ODI Tri-Series 2026 is short, balanced, and easy to follow. Six league games decide who plays on 31 October, and every team has four chances to earn a place.
Mark 18 October, 25 October, and 31 October as the days that shape the event. Those dates start the first leg, open the second leg, and close the series.
