Pakistan Cricket Update
Pakistan and Sri Lanka met in the final of the ODI tri-series at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, on Saturday, 31 October 2026. The hosts reached the final after an eventful league campaign, and the title match brought together two teams that already knew each other very well from the tournament.
The final: Pakistan bowl first
Pakistan captain Shaheen Shah Afridi won the toss and chose to bowl first. He explained that dew was expected later in the evening, which would make life harder for the team fielding second, and that he wanted to make early use of the new ball. Sri Lanka made one change, bringing in spinner Maheesh Theekshana for seamer Eshan Malinga.
Sri Lanka post 325-8
Sri Lanka put up a strong total of 325 for 8 in their innings. Kamindu Mendis was the star with a brilliant 131, while Pavan Rathnayake supported him with 77. It was a big score for a final, and it set Pakistan a challenging chase under lights at Lahore.
Shadab Khan ruled out
Pakistan were without one of their heroes of the tournament. All-rounder Shadab Khan was ruled out of the final on medical grounds after being struck by a bouncer during the fifth ODI against Sri Lanka. The Pakistan Cricket Board confirmed his absence, and seam-bowling all-rounder Faheem Ashraf replaced him in the playing XI.
How Pakistan reached the final
Pakistan started the tri-series with a 37-run win over Sri Lanka, then beat England by 87 runs. Their most dramatic win came against England in Lahore, where Shadab Khan scored an unbeaten 113 off 96 balls and shared an unbeaten 89-run last-wicket stand with Haris Rauf to rescue Pakistan from 154 for 9 and win by one wicket. Their only league defeat came against Sri Lanka, by eight wickets, in the final league match — a reminder that finals start from zero.
What to watch next
The tri-series has already given fans memorable moments, from Shadab's rescue act to the rise of young players like Maaz Sadaqat and Arafat Minhas. Whatever the final result, the tournament has shown that Pakistan's depth is growing. Fans should follow the official PCB channels and trusted sports outlets for the confirmed final result and the upcoming schedule.