Pakistan take on Sri Lanka in the final of the ODI tri-series on Saturday, 31 October 2026, at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, with a trophy on the line and a score to settle. Pakistan finished top of the league table with three wins from four matches, but their only defeat came against these same opponents, and it was a heavy one: Sri Lanka bowled them out for just 110 in Lahore on 27 October and won by eight wickets. That result means this final is no formality for the hosts, even in front of their home crowd.
The tri-series, played in preparation for next year’s 50-over World Cup, featured Pakistan, Sri Lanka and England in a double round-robin. England, despite a 55-run win over Sri Lanka in the last league game, finished third and were eliminated. Pakistan are chasing their first ODI tri-series title on home soil, having finished runners-up in 1994, 2004 and last year.
Match Overview
Pakistan reached the final first, winning their opening three league games, including a 37-run win over Sri Lanka in the series opener at Rawalpindi on 18 October, built on a century from Salman Ali Agha. Sri Lanka then turned the tables in Lahore: Dilshan Madushanka took 5 for 34 as Pakistan collapsed to 110 all out in 25.3 overs, with Babar Azam top-scoring with 29, and Sri Lanka chased the target with eight wickets in hand. The two sides are therefore level at one win each in this series, and the final will be decided by which version of Pakistan’s batting turns up. Pakistan captain Shaheen Shah Afridi leads the hosts against Kusal Mendis’ Sri Lanka.
Date, Time and Venue
- Match: Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, Final, Pakistan ODI Tri-Series 2026
- Date: Saturday, 31 October 2026
- Venue: Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, Pakistan
- Start time: 1:30 PM IST (1:00 PM PKT)
- Toss: 12:30 PM PKT (1:00 PM IST)
- Captains: Shaheen Shah Afridi (Pakistan), Kusal Mendis (Sri Lanka)
Probable Playing XIs and Squads
Pakistan’s probable side is built around the top order of Fakhar Zaman and Babar Azam, the in-form Salman Ali Agha, the all-round skills of Shadab Khan and Arafat Minhas, and the pace trio of Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf. Sri Lanka’s probable XI leans on Kusal Mendis and Avishka Fernando at the top, Pavan Rathnayake in the middle order, the all-round skills of Dasun Shanaka and Dunith Wellalage, and the left-arm swing of Dilshan Madushanka, the man who destroyed Pakistan four days ago.
- Pakistan probable XI: Maaz Sadaqat, Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, Saad Baig, Salman Ali Agha, Hasan Nawaz, Arafat Minhas, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi (captain), Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf.
- Sri Lanka probable XI: Kamindu Mendis, Avishka Fernando, Kusal Mendis (captain), Pavan Rathnayake, Sahan Arachchige, Janith Liyanage, Dasun Shanaka, Dunith Wellalage, Eshan Malinga, Asitha Fernando, Dilshan Madushanka.
Key players to watch: Salman Ali Agha, Pakistan’s leading run-scorer in the series with 158 runs from four matches including a century against Sri Lanka in the opener; Pavan Rathnayake, Sri Lanka’s leading run-scorer in the series with 350 runs from four matches; Arafat Minhas, the series’ leading wicket-taker with 9 wickets in four games; and Dilshan Madushanka after his 5 for 34 in the last meeting. Shadab Khan also made an unbeaten 113 against England in the league stage.
Head-to-Head Record
| Played | 161 (before this series) |
| Pakistan won | 97 |
| Sri Lanka won | 59 |
| Tied | 1 |
| No result | 4 |
| In this series | 1-1 (Pakistan won the opener, Sri Lanka won the Lahore rematch by 8 wickets) |
The long-term ODI record favours Pakistan clearly, but the recent meetings tell a different story: Pakistan have won four of the last five ODIs against Sri Lanka, yet the most recent one was Sri Lanka’s most one-sided win of the series. At Gaddafi Stadium specifically, Sri Lanka have historically punched above their weight, so home advantage alone will not settle this final.
Pitch and Weather Report
Gaddafi Stadium has produced three very different games in this series, which tells its own story. On 25 October, England’s 241 was chased down by Pakistan with one wicket in hand; on 27 October, Pakistan were bowled out for 110; and on 29 October, England posted 386 for 5 and still won by only 55 runs. The surface is generally good for batting, with good bounce and carry, boundaries that are not huge, and spin becoming effective in the middle overs. A first-innings total around 280 to 300 should be competitive, but as the 430 chase at Rawalpindi earlier in the tournament proved, no total in this series has felt safe. Dew under lights in the evening tends to help the chasing side, so the captain winning the toss has a genuine decision. Weather in Lahore is expected to be clear and sunny, around 19 to 32 degrees Celsius, with only a small chance of rain, so a full, uninterrupted final is expected.
Where to Watch and Live Streaming
In Pakistan, the final will be shown live on PTV Sports, with live streaming on Tapmad, Tamasha and PCB Live. In India, there is no confirmed television telecast for this final, and streaming listings have varied across the series, so viewers should check SonyLIV and FanCode on match day. In the United Kingdom, coverage is on Sky Sports, and in Sri Lanka on Peo TV, Siyatha TV and Dialog.
FAQs
When is the Pakistan vs Sri Lanka tri-series final?
Saturday, 31 October 2026, starting at 1:30 PM IST (1:00 PM PKT) at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore.
How did the two teams reach the final?
Pakistan finished first with three wins from four games (6 points); Sri Lanka finished second with two wins (4 points); England finished third and were eliminated.
What happened in their last meeting?
Sri Lanka bowled Pakistan out for 110 in 25.3 overs on 27 October in Lahore and won by eight wickets, with Dilshan Madushanka taking 5 for 34.
Who are the captains?
Shaheen Shah Afridi captains Pakistan and Kusal Mendis captains Sri Lanka.
Where can I watch the final?
In Pakistan on PTV Sports and streaming on Tapmad, Tamasha and PCB Live; in India, check SonyLIV and FanCode on match day, as no TV telecast is confirmed.
Final Summary and Conclusion
Expect a tense, high-stakes final. Pakistan have been the best side in the tournament overall, but Sri Lanka exposed their top order brutally just four days ago at this same venue, and Madushanka’s swing will again be the first test. If Pakistan’s top order survives the first ten overs, their middle order and pace attack should carry them to a first home tri-series title. If they lose three early wickets again, Sri Lanka will win, and win comfortably. Pakistan start as slight favourites, but only just.
Pakistan vs Sri Lanka tri-series final match prediction
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