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Final | PAK vs SL ODI Tri-Series 2026 | Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore | 31 October 2026
Salman Agha, Shaheen Afridi and Arafat Minhas carry Pakistan, while Pavan Rathnayake, Dilshan Madushanka and Kamindu Mendis lead Sri Lanka into Saturday’s decider at Gaddafi Stadium. Pakistan took the first meeting by 37 runs in Rawalpindi on 18 October, then collapsed to 110 in Lahore on 27 October. Those results leave the final finely balanced on paper, and the individuals who shaped them are likely to shape it again. Here is who matters most and what each has to prove.
Pavan Rathnayake tops the run charts for all three teams with 232 runs in three innings at an average of 116. His 79 in Rawalpindi built a 119-run fifth-wicket stand with Janith Liyanage, and his unbeaten 23 sealed the Lahore chase. He also carried the record 430 pursuit against England at this same ground on 22 October.
Dilshan Madushanka supplies the wickets. His 5/34 in 8.3 overs on 27 October was a career best and bundled Pakistan out for 110, their second-lowest home ODI total. He now has nine wickets in three ODIs against Pakistan, and Fakhar Zaman has fallen to him in both meetings.
The table below sets eight names side by side using their form in the two Pakistan and Sri Lanka meetings and the wider round robin. Each row carries a number that explains why captains will build plans around that name.
Salman Agha and Shadab Khan hold Pakistan’s batting hopes, yet both arrive with a mix of big scores and failures. Kamindu Mendis gives Sri Lanka a composed opening presence, having made his maiden ODI fifty against Pakistan in Lahore.
| Player | Team | Recent Form | Key Stat |
| Salman Agha | PAK | 107 in M1, 9 in M5 | Around 158 runs, four innings |
| Shadab Khan | PAK | 113 not out against England | Rescued a chase from 154/9 |
| Shaheen Shah Afridi | PAK | 3/55 in M1 | Eight wickets at 20.75 |
| Naseem Shah | PAK | 2/43 in M1, 0/25 in M5 | Fit again after two missed games |
| Arafat Minhas | PAK | 1/23 in M5 | Nine wickets at 16.11, top overall |
| Pavan Rathnayake | SL | 79 in M1, 23 not out | 232 runs at 116, top overall |
| Dilshan Madushanka | SL | 5/34 in M5, 2/67 in M1 | Seven wickets in this event |
| Kamindu Mendis | SL | 44 in M1, 62 not out | 106 runs at an average of 106 |
Shaheen Shah Afridi captains Pakistan and has eight wickets at 20.75 in the round robin, second only to Arafat Minhas. He took 3/55 in Rawalpindi and removed Avishka Fernando early in the Lahore chase. His 150th ODI wicket arrived against England, when Tom Banton fell.
Minhas leads every bowler in the competition with nine wickets at 16.11, and he claimed 1/23 in five overs when Sri Lanka chased in Lahore. Naseem Shah adds pace after returning from injury. His 2/43 in the opener came at an economy of 4.30, though he leaked 25 runs in three overs the second time.
Agha made a hundred off 90 balls in the opener, his fourth in ODIs, then fell for nine to Sahan Arachchige’s off-spin in the rematch. Shadab Khan rescued Pakistan from 154/9 against England with an unbeaten 113, sharing an 89-run last-wicket stand with Haris Rauf. Those two innings show how quickly this batting order swings between rescue and ruin.
Afridi admitted after the Lahore loss that the top order has collapsed in each of the last three or four games. Babar Azam top-scored with 29 in that 110 all out and has fallen to Eshan Malinga in both meetings. That pattern is the biggest risk to the home side’s chances.
Naseem Shah was named fit for Lahore after missing both England games, so he looks set to return, though no official XI has been announced. Faheem Ashraf or Abrar Ahmed could come in for spin support after Shadab’s century against England. Sahibzada Farhan also replaced Saim Ayub during the event.
Sri Lanka will probably keep Arachchige after his 2/24 in Lahore. Whoever lines up, the PAK vs SL tri-series 2026 key players will decide Saturday by how Afridi’s attack handles Kamindu Mendis and how the Pakistan top order handles Madushanka.
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Who is the top run scorer in the ODI tri-series?
Pavan Rathnayake of Sri Lanka leads all scorers. He has 232 runs in three innings at an average of 116, ahead of England’s Harry Brook on 208.
Who has taken the most wickets for Sri Lanka in the tournament?
Dilshan Madushanka leads Sri Lanka with seven wickets. He took them in three innings at an average of 27.14, and his career-best 5/34 in Lahore bowled Pakistan out for 110.
Is Naseem Shah playing in the final?
He is expected to, though nothing is official yet. Naseem returned from injury for the Lahore game on 27 October after missing both England matches, and no final squad had been confirmed by 29 October.
Who scored the century in the first Pakistan versus Sri Lanka match?
Salman Agha hit 107 off 90 balls. He struck ten fours and a six in Rawalpindi on 18 October and was named Player of the Match for his fourth ODI hundred.
Who is Sri Lanka’s best batter against Pakistan?
Pavan Rathnayake is the standout, with Kamindu Mendis second. Rathnayake made 79 and 23 not out against Pakistan, while Kamindu scored 106 runs in two innings and was dismissed once.
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