Pakistan, England and Sri Lanka build up to World Cup with tri-series

From October 18 to October 31, cricketing nations Pakistan, England, and Sri Lanka are set to engage in a tri-series One-Day International (ODI) tournament in Rawalpindi, Pakistan. The purpose of this series is to prepare for the upcoming 50-over World Cup, which is scheduled for next year. The World Cup will be co-hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia.

Pakistan's captain, Shaheen Shah Afridi, emphasized the significance of the series, stating that it will be crucial for his team's preparation for the World Cup. Pakistan, a World Cup champion in 1992, has not qualified for the ODI World Cup semi-finals since 2011. Their last appearance in the semi-finals was at the 2019 World Cup held in India, where they finished fifth.

England won the World Cup title at home in 2019 but struggled in 2023, finishing seventh in the tournament. Sri Lanka, the 1996 World Cup champions, fared no better than Pakistan and England. England's captain, Harry Brook, welcomed the opportunity to face two strong teams and gain a better understanding of their standing ahead of the World Cup.

The tournament's format consists of each team playing every other team twice before the top two teams face off in the final showdown on October 31 in Lahore. However, England will be playing without star batter Jos Buttler due to an injury and fast bowler Jofra Archer, who is resting. Sri Lanka's skipper, Kusal Mendis, expressed optimism about the team's prospects, hoping that the series will yield positive results.