PCB Finalises New Series For Pakistan Before 2027 ODI World Cup

Pakistan's ODI team under Shaheen Afridi | PC- AFP

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is planning to brew something exciting for the cricketing fans across the globe. 

As the ODI World Cup 2027 is around the corner, teams have already locked in their core players and started building their squads accordingly. 

Notably, the Men in Green have failed to reach the knockout stage of the ODI World Cup since the 2015 edition in Australia and New Zealand. However, the Pakistan board wants the trend to be broken, which is why they have decided to take their preparations for the marquee event a step further.  

Pakistan set to host England, SL in ODI Tri-Series

Reported by Geo News, the PCB is slated to host a tri-series in the ODI format against England and Sri Lanka, later this year. Moreover, the Pakistan board has already drawn up the schedule for the upcoming event.

The tri-nation tournament will be hosted across two venues, Rawalpindi and Lahore. Additionally, it will double round-robin tournament, before the top two sides will play the final. 

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The Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium will host the first phase of the match from October 18-22, followed by the next phase at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium from October 25 to 29. The final of the tri-series will be held in Lahore on November 1.

Although the PCB hasn't revealed the scheduled yet, it will be reportedly announced soon after consultations from the ECB and SLC. 

Schedule for ODI Tri-Series in Pakistan 2026

The hosts Pakistan are expected to play the curtain-raiser against Sri Lanka at Rawalpindi on October 18. It will be followed by a tie between the Island nation and England, before the home team play against the Three Lions.

The same trend will be followed in the Lahore leg of the ODI Tri-Series in Pakistan 2026 as well. 

Can Tri-Series set to revive interest in ODI cricket?

As reported earlier, the ICC had major plans to revive the tri-national or four-nation tournaments to bring back the the craze for the 50-over format among fans, as the format is heading towards its demise. 

That said, the big three of international cricket- India, Australia and England- will be competing in a tri-series in the next year or so. 

Interestingly, the last Tri-Series between men's sides involved Pakistan, which featured South Africa and New Zealand hosted by the PCB before the 2025 Champions Trophy. Notably, the Pakistan Tri-Nation Series 2024/25 was the first tri-nation tournament in the 50-over format since 2019. 

With the next ODI World Cup closing in, the revival of tri-nation tournaments may become a trend in world cricket. Nevertheless, the three co-hosts of the 2027 marquee event will soon be at loggerheads in a tri-series later this month, but in the shortest format. 

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