Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, 5th Match, Pakistan ODI Tri-Series, 2026 – Commentary
Pakistan meet Sri Lanka in the fifth match of the Pakistan ODI Tri-Series at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore on Tuesday, 27 October 2026, starting at 1:00 PM local time — 1:30 PM IST.
Pakistan arrive having already booked their place in Saturday’s final, unbeaten with three wins from three. Sri Lanka need this one. A win takes them to the final alongside the hosts; a defeat leaves the second qualifying place hanging on their last match against England.
There is a third team watching closely. England have lost all three of their matches and remain alive only by the narrowest arithmetic — which this fixture could end.
Pakistan vs Sri Lanka 5th Match – Match Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Match | Pakistan v Sri Lanka, 5th Match |
| Series | Pakistan ODI Tri-Series, 2026 |
| Date | Tuesday, 27 October 2026 |
| Start time | 1:00 PM local · 8:00 AM GMT · 1:30 PM IST |
| Venue | Gaddafi Stadium |
| City | Lahore, Pakistan |
| Format | One Day International (50 overs) |
| Pakistan captain | Shaheen Afridi |
| Sri Lanka captain | Kusal Mendis (also wicketkeeper) |
| Umpires and referee | To be confirmed closer to the toss |
What Is at Stake in Lahore
This is Pakistan’s first home ODI tri-series since 2004, and it has been a good one. Each side plays the other two twice, with the top two meeting in the final at the same ground on 31 October.
| Date | Match | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 18 Oct | Pakistan v Sri Lanka | Pakistan won by 37 runs |
| 20 Oct | Pakistan v England | Pakistan won by 87 runs |
| 22 Oct | Sri Lanka v England | Sri Lanka won by 2 wickets, chasing 430 |
| 25 Oct | Pakistan v England | Pakistan won by 1 wicket |
Pakistan have qualified for the final with three wins from three. Their last outing was the most dramatic of the tournament: 154 for 9 chasing 242 against England, before Shadab Khan’s unbeaten 113 and a last-wicket stand of 89 with Haris Rauf got them home by one wicket.
Sri Lanka’s single win was no less remarkable. They chased down 430 against England on 22 October — the second-highest successful run chase in men’s ODI history — winning by two wickets with a ball to spare.
For England the position is bleak and specific. With no wins from three, they can reach the final only if Pakistan beat Sri Lanka here, and England then beat Sri Lanka on 29 October by a margin large enough to overturn a weaker net run rate. Put plainly: if Sri Lanka win on Tuesday, England are out.
Pakistan Squad for the 5th Match
| Player | Role |
|---|---|
| Shaheen Afridi | Captain, left-arm fast |
| Saad Baig | Wicketkeeper-batter |
| Fakhar Zaman | Batter |
| Sahibzada Farhan | Batter |
| Babar Azam | Batter |
| Salman Agha | Batter |
| Hasan Nawaz | Batter |
| Shadab Khan | All-rounder, leg spin |
| Arafat Minhas | All-rounder, left-arm spin |
| Faheem Ashraf | All-rounder |
| Haris Rauf | Bowler |
| Naseem Shah | Bowler |
| Razaullah | Bowler |
| Ghazi Ghori | Bowler |
| Abrar Ahmed | Spinner |
| Sufyan Moqim | Spinner |
Saim Ayub released at his own request
The one change to Pakistan’s squad is an unusual one. Saim Ayub has been released from the tri-series squad — not through injury, and not because he was dropped. He asked to go.
After being dismissed for 6 in Sunday’s one-wicket win over England, Ayub spoke with head coach Mike Hesson and requested a return to domestic cricket to work on his batting. The PCB confirmed the decision on Monday, saying the board was “respecting Saim’s decision and appreciating his honest assessment of his current form”. The team management and the national selection committee agreed to the request.
Sahibzada Farhan comes in for the remainder of the tournament. He had been left out of the original tri-series squad, having captained Pakistan’s T20 side against Sri Lanka earlier this month and led the team at the Asian Games.
Sri Lanka Squad for the 5th Match
| Player | Role |
|---|---|
| Kusal Mendis | Captain and wicketkeeper |
| Kamindu Mendis | Batter |
| Avishka Fernando | Batter |
| Pavan Rathnayake | Batter |
| Kamil Mishara | Batter |
| Lahiru Udara | Batter |
| Dasun Shanaka | All-rounder |
| Janith Liyanage | All-rounder |
| Sahan Arachchige | All-rounder |
| Dunith Wellalage | All-rounder, left-arm spin |
| Sachindu Colombage | All-rounder |
| Maheesh Theekshana | Spinner |
| Asitha Fernando | Bowler |
| Dilshan Madushanka | Bowler |
| Eshan Malinga | Bowler |
| Dushmantha Chameera | Bowler |
Sri Lanka’s group contains the core of the side that chased 430 at Rawalpindi — Pavan Rathnayake, who made 130 in that chase, Dasun Shanaka and Janith Liyanage, who finished it, and Avishka Fernando, who fell three short of a hundred.
Both lists above are squads of 16, not playing XIs. Neither side has named its team, and neither will until the toss.
Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore – Venue Guide
Gaddafi Stadium has been Pakistan cricket’s principal home since 1959, and it is a markedly different ground from the one most fans will remember.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Location | Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan |
| Opened | 1959 — first Test, Pakistan v Australia, November 1959 |
| Capacity | 34,000, following the 2024-25 redevelopment |
| Ends | Jinnah End and Iqbal End |
| Reopened | 7 February 2025, after redevelopment |
| Home teams | Pakistan, Lahore Qalandars (PSL), Central Punjab |
| Floodlights | Yes — the first Pakistani cricket ground to install them, now LED |
The 2024-25 redevelopment raised capacity from roughly 21,500 to 34,000, replaced the floodlights with LED units and rebuilt much of the seating ahead of the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy. The ground reopened on 7 February 2025 and went on to stage four Champions Trophy matches, including a semi-final. Some listings still quote the old capacity figure.
Its history runs deeper than that. Gaddafi Stadium hosted the 1996 Cricket World Cup final, matches at the 1987 World Cup, the 2001-02 Asian Test Championship final and the 2017 PSL final — the first PSL fixture played on Pakistani soil. The original stadium was designed by Nasreddin Murat-Khan; the 1995-96 redesign was led by Nayyar Ali Dada.
No verified pitch report or weather forecast was available at the time of writing, and none is offered here. The broadcaster will publish a pitch report shortly before the toss.
Match Timings in Different Time Zones
Pakistan Standard Time is UTC+5, which places Lahore 30 minutes behind India and five hours ahead of GMT.
| Location | Start time | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Lahore (PKT) | 1:00 PM | Tuesday 27 October |
| GMT / UTC | 8:00 AM | Tuesday 27 October |
| India (IST) | 1:30 PM | Tuesday 27 October |
| Sri Lanka (SLST) | 1:30 PM | Tuesday 27 October |
The match falls on the same calendar date everywhere, with the toss expected about half an hour before the first ball. A day fixture starting at one o’clock finishes in the early evening in Lahore and before midnight in India.
Live Streaming and TV Broadcast
Broadcast arrangements for this tournament are held by the host board and differ by territory. Confirmed listings should be checked against the official channel guide on the day, and this page will carry the Indian broadcast details once they are published for this fixture.
For ball-by-ball scores without video, the ICC match centre, ESPNcricinfo and Cricbuzz all carry full commentary and live scorecards. A live-score service is not an authorised video stream.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Pakistan vs Sri Lanka 5th match?
Tuesday, 27 October 2026. The match starts at 1:00 PM local time in Lahore, which is 1:30 PM Indian Standard Time and 8:00 AM GMT.
Where is the Pakistan vs Sri Lanka match being played?
At Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, Pakistan — the same ground that will host the tournament final on 31 October.
Who is captaining the two sides?
Shaheen Afridi captains Pakistan. Kusal Mendis captains Sri Lanka and also keeps wicket. Saad Baig is Pakistan’s wicketkeeper.
Why is Saim Ayub not in the Pakistan squad?
He asked to be released. After being dismissed for 6 against England on Sunday, he requested a return to domestic cricket to work on his form. The PCB agreed and named Sahibzada Farhan as his replacement.
Have Pakistan already qualified for the final?
Yes. Pakistan have won all three of their matches and are through to the final on 31 October in Lahore.
What happens if Sri Lanka win?
Sri Lanka join Pakistan in the final and England are eliminated. England’s only remaining route requires Pakistan to win this match and England to then beat Sri Lanka by a large enough margin on 29 October.
What is the capacity of Gaddafi Stadium?
34,000, following the 2024-25 redevelopment that raised it from about 21,500. Some listings still quote the older figure.
What are the ends at Gaddafi Stadium called?
The Jinnah End and the Iqbal End.
Where can I follow the live score?
Ball-by-ball commentary and live scorecards are available on the ICC match centre, ESPNcricinfo and Cricbuzz. Television and streaming listings should be checked on the day.
When is the tri-series final?
Saturday, 31 October 2026, at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, between the top two sides in the group stage.
What to Watch For
Pakistan have nothing riding on the result and every reason to use the match — a settled side has four days before a final, a new opening option in Sahibzada Farhan, and a bowling attack led by a captain who took four wickets on Sunday.
Sri Lanka have everything riding on it. They have beaten one of these two sides already, in the most extraordinary chase of the year, and they know exactly what a win here is worth.
Follow our cricket section for the toss, confirmed playing XIs, the live scorecard and the full match report.
Published: 26 October 2026. Match date, start times, both squads and the series position have been verified against official announcements and published records. Match officials, playing XIs, the pitch report and broadcast listings for this fixture were not confirmed at the time of writing and are not speculated upon here.