Pakistan face Sri Lanka in the fifth match of the Pakistan ODI Tri-Series 2026 on Tuesday, 27 October 2026, at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, in a day-night contest that could decide who joins the hosts in the final on 31 October. Pakistan have already booked their place in the final after winning all three of their matches so far, while Sri Lanka must win this game to reach the final themselves. A Sri Lanka defeat would keep England alive in the competition ahead of Sri Lanka against England on 29 October, so there is far more than pride at stake in Lahore. The hosts arrive full of confidence after their remarkable one-wicket win over England on 25 October, when Shadab Khan scored an unbeaten 113 and shared an 89-run last-wicket stand with Haris Rauf to rescue Pakistan from 154 for 9. Sri Lanka, meanwhile, know exactly what is required, and they will take encouragement from a competitive series in which they have pushed the leading sides. This preview covers the date, time and venue, the squads and probable playing XIs, the head-to-head record, the pitch and weather report, and where to watch the match live.
Match Overview
Pakistan are already through to the final on 31 October after winning all three of their matches so far.
Pakistan arrive in Lahore full of confidence after their remarkable one-wicket win over England on 25 October, when Shadab Khan scored an unbeaten 113 and shared an 89-run last-wicket stand with Haris Rauf to rescue the side from 154 for 9. Sri Lanka, by contrast, know that only a win will do, and they will need their senior players to deliver under pressure in a day-night match where the chasing side has often enjoyed an advantage.
Date, Time and Venue
The match will be played on Tuesday, 27 October 2026, at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. It is a day-night 50-over match, with the toss at 1:00 PM IST (12:30 PM PKT) and the first ball at 1:30 PM IST (1:00 PM PKT). The final of the tri-series is scheduled for 31 October, so the winner of this match will have a clear path to that decider.
| Match | Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, 5th ODI |
| Series | Pakistan ODI Tri-Series 2026 |
| Date | Tuesday, 27 October 2026 |
| Venue | Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore |
| Toss | 1:00 PM IST / 12:30 PM PKT |
| First ball | 1:30 PM IST / 1:00 PM PKT |
Squads / Probable Playing XIs
Pakistan squad: Shaheen Shah Afridi (captain), Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Sahibzada Farhan, Salman Ali Agha, Hasan Nawaz, Shadab Khan, Faheem Ashraf, Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah, Abrar Ahmed, Sufyan Moqim, Arafat Minhas, Ghazi Ghori, Saad Baig and Razaullah. Saim Ayub has been released from the squad at his own request after scores of 6, 8 and 7, with Sahibzada Farhan replacing him, so Pakistan may look to give their top order a fresh shape in Lahore.
Sri Lanka squad: Kusal Mendis (captain and wicketkeeper), Avishka Fernando, Pathum Nissanka (fitness conditional), Kamil Mishara, Pavan Rathnayake, Sahan Arachchige, Kamindu Mendis, Janith Liyanage, Dasun Shanaka, Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Sachindu Colombage, Dushmantha Chameera, Asitha Fernando, Dilshan Madushanka and Eshan Malinga. With a place in the final on the line, Sri Lanka will need their senior batters and their spin and pace options to combine well in Lahore.
Probable Pakistan XI: Fakhar Zaman, Sahibzada Farhan, Babar Azam, Salman Ali Agha, Hasan Nawaz, Shadab Khan, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Shah Afridi (captain), Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah and Abrar Ahmed. Probable Sri Lanka XI: Avishka Fernando, Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis (captain and wicketkeeper), Kamindu Mendis, Dasun Shanaka, Janith Liyanage, Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Dushmantha Chameera, Asitha Fernando and Dilshan Madushanka. These are probable XIs only, not confirmed teams, and the final line-ups will be confirmed at the toss.
Head-to-Head
Pakistan and Sri Lanka have met many times in one-day internationals, and their most recent meeting in this series came on 18 October in Rawalpindi, where Pakistan won by 37 runs. That result gave Pakistan an early advantage in the tri-series, but Sri Lanka have shown they can compete with the leading sides, and a single match in Lahore can change the shape of the group. In a must-win game for Sri Lanka, the head-to-head record matters less than how the two teams handle pressure, the new ball and the middle overs on the day.
Pitch and Weather Report
The Gaddafi Stadium pitch in Lahore is batting-friendly, with good bounce for stroke play and some help for spinners in the middle overs as the ball gets older. Batters who play straight and run hard between the wickets can build a strong platform, while bowlers will need variation and accuracy to stop the scoring in the second half of the innings. First-innings scores around 287 to 305 have been common at this venue in recent matches, so a total above 300 would put real pressure on the chasing side. The weather forecast is clear and sunny, with no rain expected to interrupt this day-night match, so fans should get a full 50 overs a side.
Where to Watch / Live Streaming
- Pakistan: PTV Sports, Tamasha, Tapmad and the PCB app
- India: Veto app for digital streaming, with no TV telecast in India
- Sri Lanka: Dialog, Peo TV and Siyatha TV; UK: Sky Sports; North America: Willow TV
FAQs
Q: When is the Pakistan vs Sri Lanka 5th ODI? A: It is on Tuesday, 27 October 2026, at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, with the toss at 1:00 PM IST and the first ball at 1:30 PM IST.
Q: What happens if Sri Lanka win? A: Sri Lanka will reach the final on 31 October. If Sri Lanka lose, England stay alive ahead of Sri Lanka against England on 29 October.
Q: Where can I watch the match? A: In Pakistan on PTV Sports, Tamasha, Tapmad and the PCB app; in India on the Veto app; and in Sri Lanka on Dialog, Peo TV and Siyatha TV.
Q: Who are the key players to watch? A: Shadab Khan, fresh from his unbeaten 113 against England, along with Babar Azam and Shaheen Shah Afridi for Pakistan, and Kusal Mendis and Maheesh Theekshana for Sri Lanka.
Conclusion/Summary
In short, this is a match with a final place on the line for Sri Lanka and momentum to protect for Pakistan. The hosts have already secured their place in the 31 October final, but they will want to keep their winning run going in front of a home crowd in Lahore. Sri Lanka, meanwhile, have no margin for error: win and they are through, lose and England stay alive. Expect a high-scoring day-night contest on a batting-friendly surface, with the toss and the middle overs likely to play a decisive role.
More from this series: Pakistan vs England, 4th ODI preview
Also read: Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, 1st ODI recap
Live scores and updates: Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, 5th ODI on Cricinfo
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