By Shwet Tripathi3 min read
Cricket fans are set to witness an exciting ODI tri-series involving Pakistan, England and Sri Lanka in October 2026. The Pakistan England Sri Lanka ODI Tri-Series 2026 will feature three strong international teams, with matches to be played in Rawalpindi and Lahore.
Tri-series involving top international teams have become quite rare in modern cricket. However, Pakistan have brought the format back in recent years, having also hosted New Zealand and South Africa in an ODI tri-series ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
This time, England and Sri Lanka will travel to Pakistan for another ODI tri-series. The tournament will also give all three teams valuable 50-over cricket ahead of the ICC Men’s ODI World Cup 2027.
Pakistan England Sri Lanka ODI Tri-Series 2026 Schedule
The tournament will begin on October 18, with hosts Pakistan taking on Sri Lanka at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.
Pakistan will then face England at the same venue on October 20, while Sri Lanka and England will meet on October 22.
After the first three matches in Rawalpindi, the tournament will move to Lahore for the remaining league matches and the final.
Here is the full schedule:
| Date | Match | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| October 18 | Pakistan vs Sri Lanka | Rawalpindi |
| October 20 | Pakistan vs England | Rawalpindi |
| October 22 | Sri Lanka vs England | Rawalpindi |
| October 25 | Pakistan vs England | Lahore |
| October 27 | Pakistan vs Sri Lanka | Lahore |
| October 29 | Sri Lanka vs England | Lahore |
| October 31 | Tri-Series Final | Lahore |
The top two teams after the league stage will qualify for the final, which is scheduled to be played at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on October 31.
ODI Tri-Series Returns to Pakistan
Pakistan have shown interest in bringing triangular ODI series back to international cricket. The PCB had included the England-Sri Lanka tri-series in its Future Tours Programme several years ago.
Pakistan also hosted New Zealand and South Africa in an ODI tri-series in February 2025 as preparation for the ICC Champions Trophy.
The upcoming tournament will continue Pakistan’s effort to organise more multi-team ODI cricket outside ICC and ACC tournaments.
For cricket fans, the presence of England and Sri Lanka should make the competition even more interesting. All three teams have a strong history in ODI cricket, while the series comes around a year before the 2027 ODI World Cup.
Important Preparation for ODI World Cup 2027
The Pakistan England Sri Lanka ODI Tri-Series 2026 could be an important part of the three teams’ preparation for the 2027 ODI World Cup.
With six league matches and a final, each side will get the opportunity to play the other two teams twice before the top two qualify for the title clash.
Playing in Pakistan will also test the teams in conditions where batting, reverse swing and spin can all play an important role.
The series should give Pakistan, England and Sri Lanka a good opportunity to test their combinations and continue building their ODI squads before the 2027 World Cup.
For fans, however, the biggest attraction will simply be the return of a traditional ODI tri-series featuring three major international teams.