New Delhi, April 27: The Pakistan cricket team is set to host a One Day International (ODI) tri-series against England and Sri Lanka this year. This series is crucial for preparations leading up to the 2027 World Cup, with each team facing the others once. The top two teams will compete in the final.
The Pakistani team’s performance in ICC events has been disappointing, prompting the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to devise several strategies for the national team. Since losing to India in the 2011 semi-final in Mohali, Pakistan has not reached the ODI World Cup semi-finals. In the 2015 World Cup, they were eliminated in the quarter-finals, and in the subsequent two World Cups (2019 and 2023), they were knocked out in the first round.
According to reports, “The PCB has significant plans for the 2027 ODI World Cup preparations, including a tri-series with England and Sri Lanka scheduled for October-November this year. The England and Wales Cricket Board has agreed to this tri-series, with dates to be finalized in the coming days. Sri Lanka will tour Pakistan for a Test series, so the ODI tri-series will take place after the Test matches.”
A source indicated, “The PCB management will meet in June with white-ball head coach Mike Hesson and ODI captain Shaheen Shah Afridi to discuss preparation plans.” Australia is also set to tour Pakistan for a three-match ODI series in May-June.
In March, the Pakistani cricket team tested six new players in a series against Bangladesh but faced a 1-2 defeat. “Shaheen is fully prepared to lead Pakistan to better results in ODIs and is ready to experiment with young players,” the source added.
Pakistan had experimented with six new players during the series against Bangladesh, where they suffered a 2-1 loss.
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