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Pakistan team in action - (Source: AFP)
On Sunday, October 18, Pakistan will host Sri Lanka for match one of the tri-series involving England. The two teams will square off at the Rawalpindi Stadium. Pakistan and Sri Lanka recently met for a T20I series where Sahibzada Farhan and his men won the series.
A lot has changed for Pakistan in ODIs as Shaheen Afridi returns to lead the side. New faces will don the Green jersey, and the fans are curious about the playing XI. Therefore, this article will shed light on Pakistan’s predicted playing XI vs Sri Lanka for the 1st ODI of the tri-series.
Openers and top order: Saim Ayub, Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam
For Pakistan, Saim Ayub will open the innings alongside Fakhar Zaman. Saim Ayub has not played an ODI match since 2025 and is set to return for his first game since then. Similarly, Fakhar Zaman’s last ODI also came in November 2025.
Fakhar recently returned to the playing XI in the T20Is with the Sri Lanka series, and the same is expected for him in ODIs. Saim Ayub and Fakhar Zaman have opened the innings on five occasions for Pakistan. The duo has two fifty-plus stands, and the Men in Green would look to revert to that.
Babar Azam will bat at No.3. The right-handed batter has played 3 ODIs in 2026, amassing 125 runs. He averages 41.66 with the bat, which includes a solitary fifty.
Middle order and all-rounders: Hasan Nawaz, Salman Ali Agha, Shadab Khan, Saad Baig (wk)
In the middle order, in-form Hasan Nawaz will bat at No.4. The right-handed batter scored 96 (51) in the Asian Games 2026 final against India, and he batted at No.4. Salman Ali Agha, who has been recently ousted as white-ball captain, will stick to his batting order at No.5.
Shadab Khan will be the all-rounder in the middle. He will also don the finisher’s role and is in fine form. The right-handed batter won the player of the tournament award during CPL 2026 for 11 wickets in 7 innings. Recently, Khan featured in the ODI National Cup, where he amassed 108 runs in 4 innings and took 4 wickets in 4 innings.
Among the keepers, Pakistan have a tough choice between Ghazi Ghori and Saad Baig, but the Men in Green are expected to go ahead with the latter. Saad Baig is yet to make his international debut and could be presented with that opportunity against Sri Lanka.
Bowlers: Shaheen Afridi, Razaullah, Abrar Ahmed, Naseem Shah
Skipper Shaheen Afridi will lead the pace attack and will be joined by Naseem Shah, who recently returned to action after a long layoff. Razaullah, who impressed everyone on his Test debut in England, is expected to pip Haris Rauf and make his ODI debut against Sri Lanka.
Among the spinners, Abrar Ahmed will be the frontline spinner. The right-arm spinner is going through a rought patch as he went wicketless in the Sri Lanka T20Is, but the team is expected to hand him a longer rope.
Pakistan Predicted Playing XI vs Sri Lanka – 1st ODI, 2026
Saim Ayub, Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, Hasan Nawaz, Salman Ali Agha, Shadab Khan, Saad Baig (wk), Shaheen Afridi (C), Razaullah, Abrar Ahmed, Naseem Shah
