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When England walk out at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium in October, they will revive a tournament structure that has virtually vanished from the top-tier international calendar. The Pakistan Cricket Board's announcement of a six-match One Day International tri-series featuring Pakistan, England, and Sri Lanka brings multi-team 50-over cricket back to the forefront for the first time in over a decade for the English side.
The Six-Match Groundwork in Rawalpindi and Lahore
The tournament schedule splits neatly across Pakistan's primary cricketing hubs in Punjab. The opening leg takes place in Rawalpindi, where Pakistan faces Sri Lanka on October 18, followed by England challenging the hosts on October 20 and Sri Lanka meeting England on October 22. The campaign then shifts south to Lahore's Gaddafi Stadium for the return matches. England plays Pakistan on October 25, Pakistan meets Sri Lanka on October 27, and Sri Lanka clashes with England on October 29 in the final round-robin fixture. The top two teams in the standings will qualify for the final on October 31 at Gaddafi Stadium.
This represents England’s first ODI tri-series since early 2015, when they competed against Australia and India ahead of the 2015 World Cup down under. For host nation Pakistan, it marks their second ODI tri-series within two years, following a similar tournament involving New Zealand and South Africa ahead of the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy.
| Date | Match | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| October 18 | Pakistan vs Sri Lanka | Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium |
| October 20 | Pakistan vs England | Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium |
| October 22 | Sri Lanka vs England | Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium |
| October 25 | Pakistan vs England | Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore |
| October 27 | Pakistan vs Sri Lanka | Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore |
| October 29 | Sri Lanka vs England | Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore |
| October 31 | Tri-Series Final | Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore |
Sri Lanka’s Extended Tour and World Test Championship Stakes
While England enters the competition on October 20, Sri Lanka’s commitment in Pakistan begins earlier and extends significantly longer. The Sri Lankans land in Rawalpindi to kick off their tour with a three-match Twenty20 International series against Pakistan on October 9, 11, and 13.
Following the tri-series final on October 31, Sri Lanka remains in the country to transition to red-ball cricket. A three-day match in Islamabad from November 4 to 6 provides preparation before Pakistan and Sri Lanka clash in a two-Test series under the ICC World Test Championship 2025–27 umbrella. Rawalpindi hosts the first Test from November 9 to 13, before Lahore hosts the second Test from November 17 to 21. This red-ball leg represents Pakistan’s second home Test series of the current WTC cycle, following South Africa’s two-Test tour the previous October.
Launchpad for England’s Marathon Winter Itinerary
For England, the trip to Rawalpindi and Lahore is the opening chapter of a demanding winter schedule across multiple continents. Immediately following the tri-series final in Lahore, England shifts focus to Australia for a white-ball series comprising three ODIs and five T20s starting November 13.
The international schedule continues through the Southern Hemisphere summer. Between December 2026 and February 2027, England tours South Africa for three Tests and three ODIs. In February 2027, the squad travels to Bangladesh for a two-Test series. England's long winter concludes in March 2027 when they meet Australia in Melbourne for a historic 150th anniversary Test Match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).
Sources
These sources formed the evidence pack for this article. Links open the original publisher; inclusion does not imply endorsement.
- bbc.co.uk original
- sports.yahoo.com original
- gulliverstravel.co.uk original
- bbc.com original
