Pakistan are in discussions to host an ODI tri-series featuring England and Sri Lanka later this year, according to a report by GeoSuper, as the Pakistan Cricket Board looks to strengthen its limited-overs calendar ahead of the 2027 World Cup. The proposed series is expected to take place on home soil, with England already indicating willingness to participate while Sri Lanka’s confirmation is still awaited.
The series is being positioned as part of Pakistan’s broader preparation strategy, with discussions ongoing around scheduling and final approvals. While the exact dates are yet to be locked in, the window is likely to fall towards the latter part of the year, aligning with other international commitments.
Format and scheduling considerations
The tri-series is expected to follow a compact structure, where each team plays the others once in the group stage before the top two sides progress to the final. This format is aimed at maximizing competitive exposure within a short window, offering valuable match practice ahead of major ICC events.
Sri Lanka are already scheduled to tour Pakistan under the Future Tours Programme, where they are set to play three T20 Internationals followed by a two-match Test series. The limited-overs fixtures are likely to be staged in October, with the Test matches expected to take place in November, allowing space for the proposed tri-series within that timeframe.
Venue planning and operational details
Discussions around venues are also underway, with plans focusing on a limited number of host cities. A source close to the Pakistan Cricket Board told PTI, “The PCB is likely to hold matches at just two venues Lahore and Karachi but dates and venues would be finalized soon.”
Strategic context behind the tri-series
The move comes as Pakistan looks to address inconsistencies in its ODI performances in recent global tournaments. The team has not reached the semi-finals of an ODI World Cup since 2011, with subsequent campaigns ending in the quarter-finals in 2015 and early exits in both 2019 and 2023.
Organising a tri-nation series at home is seen as a step towards building momentum and refining combinations against strong opposition. Pakistan has previously used similar formats as preparation tools, including a tri-series hosted in the UAE featuring Afghanistan and the hosts, as well as a home tri-series involving Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe, winning both tournaments.
Confirmation timeline and next steps
With England’s participation progressing and Sri Lanka’s response still pending, final confirmation of the tri-series will depend on scheduling alignment and formal approvals. The PCB is expected to finalize details in the coming weeks as preparations continue for a packed international calendar.
