Pakistan face Sri Lanka in ODI tri-series final today: time and stakes
Web StoryWatch this story in 15 seconds →Key takeaways
- Pakistan play Sri Lanka in the ODI tri-series final in Lahore today, with the toss at 12:30 PM PKT and the first ball at 1:00 PM.
- Pakistan want their first tri-series title at home, but Sri Lanka beat them by eight wickets just four days ago.
- Salman Ali Agha leads Pakistan with 158 runs, while Dilshan Madushanka and Shaheen Shah Afridi have eight wickets each.
Pakistan face Sri Lanka in the ODI tri-series final in Lahore today. The toss is at 12:30 PM PKT and the first ball at 1:00 PM. Pakistan want their first tri-series title on home soil.
What happened
Pakistan reached the final first. They beat England twice and Sri Lanka once. Their only loss came against Sri Lanka.
On October 20, Pakistan beat England by 87 runs in Rawalpindi. Then came the one-wicket thriller against England in Lahore. Shadab Khan hit 113 not out that day as Pakistan chased 242 to win.
Sri Lanka lost their opener to Pakistan by 37 runs on October 18. Then they produced the chase of the tournament. They chased 430 to beat England by two wickets. Arab News called it the second-highest chase in ODI history.
Four days ago, Sri Lanka destroyed Pakistan in Lahore. Dilshan Madushanka took 5 for 34, his best ODI figures, and Pakistan were bowled out for 110. Kamindu Mendis hit 62 not out as Sri Lanka won by eight wickets.
That win booked Sri Lanka's final spot and ended England's hopes in the tournament. England later took the dead rubber on October 29, when Ben Duckett hit 167 in England's consolation win over Sri Lanka. England posted 386 for 5 and won by 55 runs, their only win of the series.
Why it matters
Pakistan have never won an ODI tri-series at home. They lost home finals in 1994, 2004 and 2025. Australia, Sri Lanka and New Zealand beat them in those finals. A win today would end that long wait.
This is only the fourth ODI tri-series held in Pakistan, after editions in 1994, 2004 and 2025. The final also doubles as World Cup preparation. The 50-over World Cup takes place next year. Both teams want form and answers before that event.
England were the pre-tournament favourites but lost their first three matches. Harry Brook's side now watch the final from the sidelines.
Pakistan's top order is a worry after the 110 all out four days ago. "We have performed well as a team, but there are still areas where we need to improve, particularly scoring runs at the top and building partnerships," Shaheen Shah Afridi told PCB Digital.
"The final is a big game for us," said Sri Lanka captain Kusal Mendis, adding: "We played really well against Pakistan in our previous encounter. We are well prepared and looking forward to the final."
Pakistan won the opener against Sri Lanka by 37 runs and beat England twice. But the eight-wicket defeat four days ago showed Sri Lanka's current edge. The final is a fresh contest.
Players to watch
Salman Ali Agha has 158 runs in four games. He leads Pakistan's batting charts. He hit a century against Sri Lanka in Rawalpindi.
Arafat Minhas has nine wickets, the most for Pakistan, including a six-wicket haul against England in Rawalpindi. Shaheen Shah Afridi and Dilshan Madushanka have eight wickets each. Madushanka's 5 for 34 against Pakistan was the spell of the series.
Babar Azam top-scored with 29 in the last game. Pakistan need a big score from him today. Fakhar Zaman fell for five in that game and must find form.
Kamindu Mendis is in fine form after his 62 not out. Sri Lanka's eight-wicket win over Pakistan showed how dangerous they are with the new ball.
What happens next
The toss takes place at 12:30 PM PKT today. The first ball is at 1:00 PM. Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore hosts the game.
In Pakistan, PTV Sports shows the match on TV while Tapmad and Tamasha stream it online. The PCB Live app streams it in the UK, North America, the Caribbean, Africa and Europe. In India, there is no TV telecast, but fans can stream the match online.
Pakistan start as league winners, but Sri Lanka beat them badly four days ago. The final will decide who lifts the trophy. One game stands between Pakistan and their first tri-series title at home.
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