England face Pakistan in Rawalpindi on their first ODI tour there since 2005

England begin their one-day tri-series campaign against Pakistan in Rawalpindi on Tuesday, 21 years after they last played a one-day international series in the country

Harry Brook's side arrived in Pakistan last week for the three-team tournament, which also involves Sri Lanka and runs until the final in Lahore on 31 October. Tuesday's match at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium is England's first of the competition.

It is England's first one-day international series in Pakistan since 2005, a gap of 21 years.

Pakistan, captained by Shaheen Shah Afridi, opened the tri-series with a win over Sri Lanka at the same ground on Sunday, Salman Agha making a century.

Twenty-one years away

England's players were welcomed by Pakistan Cricket Board officials with traditional Jinnah caps on arrival, Joe Root among those who wore one.

The gap applies to one-day cricket alone. England have toured Pakistan for Test cricket more recently, losing a series to the hosts.

For England the tournament is part of their preparation for the 2027 ICC Men's Cricket World Cup.

A reshuffled England squad

England named a 16-man squad with Harry Brook continuing as captain, after a 2-1 ODI series win over Sri Lanka at home last month.

Jos Buttler misses the tour after walking off the field in England's second ODI against Sri Lanka with a hamstring injury, and Jofra Archer has been rested.

Adil Rashid returns having recovered from a hand injury and Sam Curran is back after a groin problem, while the leg-spinner Mason Crane has a maiden ODI call-up on the back of one Test and two T20I appearances.

The all-rounder James Coles, 22, and the 21-year-old seamer Henry Crocombe, both named in England's white-ball squads for the Sri Lanka series, travel again.

England arrive having won each of their last three one-day international series.

Hesson expects a tough tournament

Pakistan's head coach Mike Hesson said his one-day side had improved in recent months and had to sustain it. "Our one-day side made some good progress in the last six months. We've got to continue that," he said.

"So it's going to be a tough tri-series, one we're looking forward to," Hesson added, speaking after Pakistan's Twenty20 series against Sri Lanka.

Of the uncapped fast bowler Razaullah, Hesson said: "he's fresh, and he's raw, but he's got genuine pace."

Pakistan's recent one-day record

Pakistan swept Sri Lanka 3-0 at home in November 2025 and beat South Africa 2-1, before losing 2-1 away to Bangladesh in March 2026.

They then beat Australia 2-1 at home in May and June 2026, the run behind Hesson's reference to six months of progress.

Pakistan also took their Twenty20 series against Sri Lanka 2-1, finishing on 13 October in Rawalpindi, a week before meeting England.

Shaheen leads a 16-man squad that also carries Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman and Saim Ayub among the batters, with Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah and Abrar Ahmed among the bowling options.

How the tri-series works

The three teams each play the other twice across six league matches, split between Rawalpindi and Lahore, with the top two meeting in the final.

England's other fixtures are against Sri Lanka in Rawalpindi on 22 October, Pakistan in Lahore on 25 October and Sri Lanka again in Lahore on 29 October.

Sri Lanka, beaten in the opening match, have recalled Avishka Fernando, who last played an ODI in February 2025, and added Sahan Arachchige as cover for the injured Wanindu Hasaranga.

All of the matches are day-night fixtures starting at 1.30pm local time, and the final is at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on 31 October.

Pakistan and England meet at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Tuesday, the second match of a tri-series that runs to the end of the month.

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