Pakistan, England and Sri Lanka Launch Tri-Series as 2027 ODI World Cup Preparations Begin

Pakistan, England and Sri Lanka have launched a seven-match ODI tri-series starting October 18 in Rawalpindi, with all three former World Cup champions using the tournament to prepare for the 2027 ICC ODI World Cup to be hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia. Pakistan captain Shaheen Shah Afridi, England captain Harry Brook and Sri Lanka captain Kusal Mendis have all highlighted the importance of the series in gauging World Cup readiness. The tournament follows a double round-robin format, with the final scheduled for October 31 in Lahore.

With fewer than twelve months remaining before the 50-over World Cup kicks off across South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia, each of the three host nations — all of them past champions — has a stretch of time ahead to rotate players, experiment with lineups, and sharpen their preparations before competition gets underway. Heading into the tournament as Pakistan's captain, Afridi described the opening match against Sri Lanka as an opportunity to establish the momentum his side will need before the World Cup. Pakistan's sole World Cup title dates to 1992, and while the side reached the semi-finals as recently as 2011, the 2023 edition held in India brought only a fifth-place result, leaving that threshold uncleared in the intervening years. Where England lifted the trophy in 2019, their return four years on brought a seventh-place result, a tournament in which Sri Lanka — whose own World Cup victory dated back to 1996 — also found themselves unable to mount a sustained challenge. With two strong opponents on the horizon, Brook — who captains the England side — has characterised the upcoming series as a useful measure of where his team actually stands.

Pakistan, England and Sri Lanka Launch Tri-Series as 2027 ODI World Cup Preparations Begin

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Pakistan, England and Sri Lanka Launch Tri-Series as 2027 ODI World Cup Preparations Begin

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