The Pakistan ODI Tri-Series 2026 reaches its third match on Thursday, and it is already close to must-win territory for both camps. Sri Lanka and England meet at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium with neither side yet off the mark — both were beaten by hosts Pakistan in the opening two games — and with only the top two of the three teams reaching the October 31 final in Lahore, the loser will face an almighty uphill climb.
Match Overview
This is a seven-match double round-robin tri-series running from October 18 to October 31, with each team playing the other twice as all three sides build towards the 2027 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup. Pakistan have seized early control: they beat Sri Lanka by 37 runs in the opener on October 18 (posting 305 before bowling Sri Lanka out for 268) and then thrashed England by 87 runs on October 20, powered by a six-wicket haul from Arafat Minhas. That leaves the standings at Pakistan 2-0, Sri Lanka 0-1 and England 0-1. After this game the series moves to Lahore for Pakistan vs England (October 25), Pakistan vs Sri Lanka (October 27), Sri Lanka vs England (October 29) and the final (October 31).
Date, Time and Venue
| Detail | Information |
| Match | Sri Lanka vs England, 3rd ODI |
| Series | Pakistan ODI Tri-Series 2026 |
| Date | Thursday, 22 October 2026 |
| Start time | 1:00 PM PKT / 1:30 PM IST (toss at 12:30 PM PKT) |
| Venue | Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi — the final game of the Rawalpindi leg |
| Sri Lanka captain | Kusal Mendis |
| England captain | Harry Brook |
Squads
Sri Lanka squad (16 members): Kusal Mendis (captain), Pathum Nissanka (subject to medical clearance), Avishka Fernando, Kamil Mishara, Pavan Rathnayake, Sahan Arachchige, Kamindu Mendis, Janith Liyanage, Dasun Shanaka and others. Notably, former captain Charith Asalanka has been dropped after a lean run on Sri Lanka’s recent tour of England.
England squad: Harry Brook (captain), Gus Atkinson, Sonny Baker, Tom Banton, James Coles, Jordan Cox, Mason Crane, Henry Crocombe, Sam Curran, Liam Dawson, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Jamie Overton, Adil Rashid, Joe Root and Josh Tongue — including uncapped trio Mason Crane, Henry Crocombe and James Coles.
Players to watch: Kusal Mendis and the fit-again-hopeful Pathum Nissanka for Sri Lanka; Joe Root, Ben Duckett and leg-spinner Adil Rashid for England; and Harry Brook, whose aggressive captaincy sets the tone for this young England ODI side.
Head-to-Head Record
There is recent familiarity between these sides — they met in an ODI series in England earlier this year during Sri Lanka’s tour. England arrive in Pakistan on the back of three consecutive ODI series wins, while Sri Lanka recently beat West Indies 1-0 in a three-match home ODI series. Both teams are still searching for their first win of this tri-series, which adds real edge to Thursday’s contest.
Pitch and Weather Report
The series opener at this venue produced 573 runs — Pakistan’s 305 proved too many for Sri Lanka’s 268 — which points to a good batting surface with true bounce and value for stroke-play. The new ball may offer early assistance before conditions flatten out, and with the day game finishing under lights, dew could make chasing attractive for the toss-winning captain. October weather in Rawalpindi is typically clear and pleasant, and no rain interruption is expected.
Where to Watch — Live Streaming and TV
In the UK and Ireland every match of the tri-series is live on Sky Sports and NOW. In Pakistan, the games are available through the PCB’s official broadcast partners. Ball-by-ball scores will be available on all major cricket score platforms.
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where is the Sri Lanka vs England 3rd ODI?
Thursday, 22 October 2026, at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi, Pakistan.
What time does the match start?
1:00 PM PKT / 1:30 PM IST, with the toss at 12:30 PM PKT.
What is the format of the Pakistan ODI Tri-Series 2026?
A seven-match double round-robin: each of Pakistan, England and Sri Lanka plays the other twice, and the top two teams meet in the final in Lahore on October 31.
Who are the captains?
Kusal Mendis captains Sri Lanka and Harry Brook captains England; Shaheen Shah Afridi leads hosts Pakistan.
Where can I watch SL vs ENG 3rd ODI live in the UK?
Live on Sky Sports and NOW in the UK and Ireland.
Conclusion
With Pakistan already two wins from two, Thursday’s game is effectively an eliminator in spirit: the winner stays firmly in the race for the October 31 final, while the loser slips to 0-2 and must then win out in Lahore. England’s powerful batting against Sri Lanka’s varied attack, on a true Rawalpindi surface, promises a high-quality contest — and the team that handles the pressure of a near-knockout will take a giant step towards the final.
Broadcast details for the series are confirmed here on Sky Sports.
