Pakistan will face Sri Lanka in the final of the ODI tri-series at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Saturday, October 31, 2026, just four days after Sri Lanka bowled the hosts out for 110 in the same venue.
What happened?
The finalists were settled on Tuesday, October 27, when Sri Lanka’s eight-wicket win over Pakistan took them into the final and eliminated England, who lost all three of their matches. Thursday’s Sri Lanka–England game is a dead rubber, leaving both finalists with a short wait before Saturday’s decider.
Key details
- The final is on Saturday, October 31, at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore.
- Pakistan had won their first three matches of the series before Tuesday’s defeat; Sri Lanka won two of their three league games.
- In Tuesday’s match, Pakistan were bowled out for 110 in 25.3 overs, with only Babar Azam (29) passing 25, while Sri Lanka chased the target in 18.1 overs.
- Dilshan Madushanka, who took a career-best 5 for 34 on Tuesday, will again lead Sri Lanka’s pace attack in the final.
- Babar Azam is yet to score a half-century in the series, a lean run the team will want corrected in the final.
- Pakistan’s earlier wins in the series, including the one-wicket thriller against England in Lahore, showed the side can win close games; Tuesday showed how quickly a batting collapse can undo that work.
What it means for people in Pakistan
For fans, Saturday is both a home final and a rematch with a point to prove. The questions are clear: can the top order survive Madushanka’s new-ball spell, and can the middle order turn a start into a defendable total? A win would turn a shaky week into a trophy; another collapse would leave the same questions hanging over the team into the Test series against Sri Lanka that follows.
Source: UrduPoint
