Match 5 | Pakistan vs Sri Lanka ODI Tri-Series 2026 | Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore | 27 October 2026

Both teams look set to repeat their latest line-ups, and that keeps the selection debate narrow. Pakistan should stay with the group from Match 4, keeping Razaullah and Shadab Khan, while Sri Lanka are expected to fall back on the Match 3 combination built around Kusal Mendis and Pavan Rathnayake. Nothing is confirmed, and the names will only arrive at the toss around 12:30 PM Pakistan time on 27 October, so the real uncertainty sits with Chameera’s fitness and Pakistan’s untested reserves. 

Pakistan’s Likely Line-Up at Gaddafi 

Pakistan’s most recent group against England had Fakhar Zaman and Saim Ayub opening, with Babar Azam at three and Saad Baig keeping wicket. Salman Agha and Hasan Nawaz followed, with Arafat Minhas and Shadab Khan lower down. Shaheen Afridi captains the side, supported by Razaullah and Haris Rauf. That is the combination expected to return, though the table below treats it as a prediction. 

Two changes are defined that match. Razaullah came in for Naseem Shah, who was reported to have a finger injury, and Shadab replaced Faheem Ashraf. No other rest news has surfaced, which suggests the group is settled. 

PAK vs SL tri-series 2026 playing XI 

Pakistan have three players who have not yet featured: Abrar Ahmed, Sufiyan Moqim and Ghazi Ghori. Moqim and Shadab both missed the first match through illness, and Shadab has since returned to action. Nothing new has appeared on Moqim, so his availability remains an open question. 

Ghori is the second wicketkeeper in the group alongside Baig, which makes him the natural cover if the regular gloveman is unavailable. Until the toss, the safest reading is that all three stay on the bench. 

Sri Lanka’s Probable Line-Up 

Sri Lanka’s expected group comes from the Match 3 meeting with England, and it is an inference because the information is only partly confirmed. Kamindu Mendis and Avishka Fernando open, Kusal Mendis keeps wicket and captains at three, and Rathnayake follows at four. Shanaka, Liyanage, Arachchige and Wellalage fill the middle, with Malinga, Asitha Fernando and Madushanka as the pacers. 

Chameera is in the squad but only subject to fitness clearance, and he was left out of the XIs for both Match 1 and Match 3. No later update has appeared. Theekshana has not played in the competition at all, so Sri Lanka have two bowling options waiting for an opening if they decide to alter the attack. 

Sri Lanka’s Bowling Questions 

The attack has not been consistent. In Match 1, Asitha took 3 for 59, Madushanka 2 for 67 and Malinga 4 for 46, while Shanaka went for 41 without a wicket and the leg-spinner Colombage conceded 61 in ten overs. Kamindu gave away 19 runs without a wicket. 

Match 3 told a harder story. Madushanka conceded 89 and Malinga 91, both without a wicket, and Shanaka went for 74, while Asitha took one for 68. Wellalage was the bright spot with two wickets for 56 in ten overs, so the spinner’s spot looks safe. 

Gaddafi Conditions Shape the Selection 

Scoring at Gaddafi has been heavy. Across the last 13 ODIs between 2022 and 2026, the first innings has averaged 286.0 and the second 247.5, and the last five first innings average 265 against an all-time mark of 257. 

That backdrop explains why neither side is likely to take risks. Pakistan will lean on a deep batting order that runs down to Shaheen at nine, and Sri Lanka will back a lineup with three all-rounders in the first six. Given all that, the PAK vs SL tri-series 2026 playing XI choices that matter most are the pace slot Razaullah holds and the fitness verdict on Chameera.                                                                                                                                                                                              

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

When will the Pakistan XI for Match 5 be announced?

The XI is named at the toss, around 12:30 PM Pakistan time. The match starts at 1:00 PM there, which is 2:00 PM in Bangladesh. 

Who replaced Faheem Ashraf in Pakistan’s last XI?

Shadab Khan replaced Faheem Ashraf. Razaullah also came in for Naseem Shah, leaving Shaheen Afridi, Razaullah and Haris Rauf as the pace trio in the Match 4 XI against England. 

Who is the captain of Sri Lanka in the tri-series?

Kusal Mendis captains Sri Lanka in the tri-series. He also keeps wicket and bats at number three in the expected line-up, ahead of Rathnayake at four. 

Is Chameera playing for Sri Lanka in Match 5?

Chameera is in the squad but depends on fitness clearance. He was left out of the XIs for Match 1 and Match 3, and no fresh update has appeared. 

Who are Pakistan’s wicketkeepers in the squad?

Saad Baig and Ghazi Ghori are Pakistan’s two wicketkeepers in the squad. Baig kept in Match 4 and batted at number four, while Ghori has yet to play in the competition.