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Jay Shah Mohsin Naqvi for ICC PCB. Image Credits: AFP
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has guaranteed a big tri-series for the Pakistan team as they set their eyes on the ICC 2027 World Cup tournament. The 2027 ICC 50-over tournament will be jointly hosted by South Africa, Namibia, and Zimbabwe.
Pakistan has not had a very good record in recent times in ICC events. In the 2023 ICC World Cup, Pakistan failed to make it into the semi-finals under the captaincy of Babar Azam. They also failed to make it into the knockouts of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, hosted by them, and into the T20 World Cup 2026 tournament.
Pakistan team’s record in the ICC World Cup tournaments
The Pakistan team has been excellent in the ICC World Cup tournaments. After finishing in the group stage in the inaugural edition of the Cricket World Cup in 1979, Pakistan went on to make it into the semi-finals of the 1979, 1983, and 1987 ICC Cricket World Cup events.
Pakistan’s biggest moment thus far came in the 1992 World Cup, when their mercurial captain Imran Khan came out of retirement and led them to their only Cricket World Cup win. Since then, they have made it into the knockouts of the 1996 World Cup and the 2011 and 2015 World Cups, while playing in the final of the 1999 World Cup in England.
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PCB brings in England and Sri Lanka to Pakistan for a tri-series to prepare for the ICC World Cup 2027
Pakistan will tune up for the 2027 World Cup with a home tri-series with England and Sri Lanka this year, according to a Telecom Asia Sport report.
Each team will play the others once in the proposed series' condensed format before the top two teams square off in the championship game. The ODI tri-series is slated to take place after the red-ball leg, and Sri Lanka's participation coincides with their test visit of Pakistan.
"The Pakistan Cricket Board has extensive plans for the national team to prepare for the ODI World Cup in 2027 with a tri-series with England and Sri Lanka in October-November this year. The England and Wales Cricket Board has agreed to the tri-series with dates due to be finalized in the next few days. Sri Lanka will be on a Test tour to Pakistan, so the ODI tri-series will be after the Tests,” said the report.
“The PCB management will sit down with white-ball head coach Mike Hesson and ODI captain Shaheen Shah Afridi to chalk out preparation plans in June,” a source was quoted in the report.
Australia is also scheduled to tour Pakistan for a three-match ODI series in May-June this year.
The PCB is looking to reform the Pakistan team’s fortunes
Since losing to India in Mohali in 2011, Pakistan has not advanced to the ODI World Cup semifinals. They were eliminated in the 2015 World Cup quarterfinals, and in 2019 and 2023, they were eliminated in the first round.
Pakistan’s game plan for the 2027 ODI World Cup has begun under Mike Hesson, as they recently handed opportunities to six uncapped players during their tour of Bangladesh.
Pakistan wants to assemble a more cohesive and competitive team well in advance. It is anticipated that the proposed tri-series will offer vital match practice against elite opponents at home.
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