England favourites to win tri-series in Pakistan

RAWALPINDI, Pakistan (AP):

England start as favourites to win the ODI tri-series against Pakistan and Sri Lanka, despite being without Jos Buttler and Jofra Archer.

All three teams have already secured direct qualification for next year’s World Cup, which will be co-hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia, and the tri-series will serve as important preparation as they fine-tune their squads.

The tournament will be played in a double round-robin format, with Rawalpindi hosting the first three matches, beginning with today’s opener between Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Lahore will stage the remaining four games, including the final between the top two teams on October 31.

Chance for Baker and Cox

England enter the series on the back of three consecutive bilateral ODI series victories, including home-and-away wins over Sri Lanka and a 2-1 triumph over India at home.

“It’s been quite a slick process for us in the last few months,” captain Harry Brook said yesterday.

“Pakistan are going to present us challenges that we probably haven’t quite faced yet as an ODI side and we’re really looking forward to that opportunity of playing against Pakistan and Sri Lanka in subcontinental conditions.”

Fast bowler Archer has been rested following a busy home summer, while Buttler was ruled out with a hamstring injury sustained during England’s 16-run loss in the second ODI against Sri Lanka at Headingley last month.

Buttler’s absence will provide an opportunity for Jordan Cox as a wicketkeeper-batter and give white-ball coach Brendon McCullum a chance to test the side’s depth ahead of the World Cup.

Sonny Baker has been drafted in as Archer’s replacement, and observers will be keen to see how his reverse swing and yorkers, particularly in the death overs, translate at this level.

“If we get the opportunity to get to that final, it will show us where we are as a squad and where we – as an XI – going into a pressure game,” Brook said. “We want to be a side where we can win in any conditions against any opposition and that’s been the main messaging really.”

Brook has happy memories of Pakistan, having scored heavily there in both white-ball and red-ball cricket. He played for Lahore Qalandars during the 2022 Pakistan Super League before compiling 468 runs in a three-Test series in Pakistan.

Babar in focus again

Pakistan have never won a home ODI tournament involving more than two teams since first hosting Australia and South Africa in a tri-series in 1994.

However, captain Shaheen Afridi is hopeful that can change, particularly with star batter Babar Azam looking to rediscover top form on pitches expected to be similar to those that will be used at next year’s World Cup.

“Babar is a backbone of our team,” Afridi said. “His presence is very good for the team, and we learn a lot from him.”

Babar has scored just one ODI century over the last three years, although his career average of 53.43 remains impressive, with 6,626 runs and 20 hundreds.

The star batter returned to domestic four-day cricket after England swept Pakistan 3-0 in their Test series, but managed scores of 12, 4, 21 and 21 in four innings.

Pakistan defeated Sri Lanka 2-1 in the preceding T20 series under new captain Sahibzada Farhan, who is not part of the ODI squad. Afridi, Babar, Salman Ali Agha and Haris Rauf were also rested from the T20 squad but return for the tri-series.

Sri Lanka miss key players

Sri Lanka suffered another injury setback when opening batter Pathum Nissanka was ruled out with a hamstring injury. Lahiru Udara has been named as his replacement.

Spinner Wanindu Hasaranga will also miss the tournament through injury, while Charith Asalanka was not considered following a below-par tour of England.

Sri Lanka have recalled all-rounder Dasun Shanaka, who has not played 50-over cricket for the national team since early 2024, while Avishka Fernando has been drafted in to replace Asalanka. Fernando has not featured in an ODI since early 2025 but forced his way back into contention after scoring two centuries in recent domestic competition.