Pakistan will lock horns with Sri Lanka in the first ODI of the ongoing tri-series at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi on Sunday, October 18.
Pakistan, captained by Shaheen Shah Afridi, bagged a 2-1 ODI series win against Australia at home in June 2026. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka, captained by Kusal Mendis, suffered a 1-2 ODI series defeat to England earlier last month.
PAK vs SL, ODI Tri-Series 2026, Match 1, Match Details
Match: Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, ODI Tri-Series 2026, Match 1
Time & Date: 1:30 PM IST, Sunday, October 18
Venue: Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi
PAK vs SL, ODI Tri-Series 2026, Match 1 Probable XIs
Pakistan
Fakhar Zaman, Saim Ayub, Babar Azam, Salman Ali Agha, Hasan Nawaz, Ghazi Ghori (wk), Shadab Khan, Faheem Ashraf, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Afridi (c), Abrar Ahmed
Sri Lanka
Avishka Fernando, Kamindu Mendis, Kusal Mendis (c) (wk), Pavan Rathnayake, Dasun Shanaka, Janith Liyanage, Dunith Wellalage, Sachindu Colombage, Eshan Malinga, Asitha Fernando, Dilshan Madushanka
PAK vs SL, ODI Tri-Series 2026, Match 1 Pitch Report
With the average first-inning score across the last three ODIs at this venue being 233, we can expect batters and bowlers to do equally well. It’s wise to bowl first on this surface to put a lot of pressure on the opposition.
PAK vs SL, ODI Tri-Series 2026, Match 1 Top Picks
Salman Agha
Middle-order batter Salman Agha has scored 319 runs in his last 10 ODIs at an average of 45.57 and a strike rate of 104.24.
Kusal Mendis
Sri Lankan captain Kusal Mendis has scored 463 runs in his last 10 ODIs at an average of 57.88 and a strike rate of 92.41.
PAK vs SL, ODI Tri-Series 2026, Match 1 Captain picks
Saim Ayub
Saim Ayub is expected to do well in both batting and bowling departments, giving good enough fantasy points.
Babar Azam
Babar Azam has amassed 317 runs in his last seven ODIs at an average of 52.83 and a strike rate of 70.75.
PAK vs SL, ODI Tri-Series 2026, Match 1 Head-to-head Dream11 team
Saim Ayub (c), Babar Azam, Kusal Mendis, Salman Agha (vc), Fakhar Zaman, Hasan Nawaz, Pavan Rathnayake, Abrar Ahmed, Asitha Fernando, Shaheen Afridi, Dunith Wellalage
PAK vs SL, ODI Tri-Series 2026, Match 1 Grand League Dream11 team
Saim Ayub, Babar Azam (c), Kusal Mendis (vc), Salman Agha, Fakhar Zaman, Hasan Nawaz, Pavan Rathnayake, Abrar Ahmed, Asitha Fernando, Shaheen Afridi, Dunith Wellalage
