Pakistan will face England in the second match of the Pakistan ODI Tri-Series 2026 at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Tuesday, October 20. Both teams will be eager to secure a victory as they compete alongside Sri Lanka in the 50-over tournament.
Pakistan will aim to make the most of home advantage after a strong start to their campaign. Their batting lineup has the ability to post a competitive total, while the pace attack will look to exploit any assistance from the surface. The hosts will be keen to build partnerships and maintain pressure on England through disciplined bowling.
Meanwhile, England will look to deliver a strong performance against the hosts. Their aggressive batting approach could prove effective on Rawalpindi’s batting-friendly pitch, where building partnerships and maintaining a healthy scoring rate will be crucial.
PAK vs ENG: Match Details
| Match Information | Details |
|---|---|
| Match | Pakistan vs England, 2nd ODI |
| Tournament | Pakistan ODI Tri-Series 2026 |
| Date | Tuesday, October 20, 2026 |
| Start Time (PKT) | 1:00 PM |
| Start Time (IST) | 1:30 PM |
| Start Time (GMT) | 8:00 AM |
| Toss Time (PKT) | 12:30 PM |
| Venue | Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi |
| Format | One-Day International |
| Pakistan Captain | Shaheen Shah Afridi |
| England Captain | Harry Brook |
Team Overview
Pakistan
Pakistan will look to carry their winning momentum into the second match after a convincing start to their tri-series campaign. Their victory over Sri Lanka highlighted their batting depth and pace-bowling strength, with Salman Ali Agha producing a century.
Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman will be important to Pakistan’s plans at the top of the order, while Saim Ayub offers an attacking option during the powerplay. Salman Ali Agha’s recent form also gives the hosts a reliable middle-order batter.
Pakistan’s bowling attack, featuring Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf and Faheem Ashraf, will be central to their chances. Shaheen’s ability to strike with the new ball and Haris’s pace at the death could prove particularly important against England’s aggressive batters.
The hosts will aim to build partnerships, avoid losing early wickets and use their bowling resources effectively. Their performance will be closely followed by fans seeking the latest Pakistan cricket news.
England
England will look to begin their tri-series campaign with a strong performance against Pakistan. Led by Harry Brook, the team combines experienced international players with aggressive batting options.
Joe Root’s ability to build an innings will be valuable if England lose early wickets, while Ben Duckett and Tom Banton can provide an attacking start. Brook’s aggressive middle-order batting could be decisive if England need to accelerate during the second half of their innings.
England also have a varied bowling attack. Adil Rashid offers experience and control in the middle overs, while Gus Atkinson, Josh Tongue, Jamie Overton and Sam Curran provide pace-bowling options. Will Jacks adds further batting depth and another spin option.
England’s main challenge will be to handle Pakistan’s fast bowlers early in the innings while maintaining a healthy scoring rate. A disciplined performance in the field will also be essential against a home side coming off a strong opening win.
PAK vs ENG: Head-to-Head ODI Record
Pakistan and England have a long history in men’s ODI cricket. England have held the advantage in their overall head-to-head record.
| ODI Record | Statistics |
|---|---|
| Total matches | 91 |
| Won by Pakistan | 31 |
| Won by England | 57 |
| Tied | 0 |
| No results | 3 |
These figures refer to men’s ODI internationals between Pakistan and England, rather than T20Is. England’s historical advantage gives them a strong record to draw on, although Pakistan’s home conditions could make this fixture competitive.
Top Players to Watch
1. Babar Azam — Pakistan
Babar Azam will be a key figure in Pakistan’s batting lineup. His ability to rotate the strike, build partnerships and accelerate when required makes him particularly important in a 50-over contest. A solid innings from Babar could provide the platform for Pakistan’s middle order to attack.
2. Salman Ali Agha — Pakistan
Salman Ali Agha enters the match after scoring a century against Sri Lanka in the opening game. His ability to combine controlled batting with timely acceleration makes him a valuable middle-order option. Pakistan will hope he can maintain that form against England.
3. Shaheen Shah Afridi — Pakistan
Pakistan’s captain will be one of the leading threats with the ball. Shaheen’s left-arm pace and ability to generate movement with the new ball could test England’s top order. His leadership and performance will also be important for the hosts.
4. Harry Brook — England
Brook will be central to England’s batting plans. His attacking approach and ability to score quickly against pace and spin could help England respond to Pakistan’s bowling pressure. As captain, he will also need to manage the innings according to the match situation.
5. Joe Root — England
Root provides England with experience and stability in the middle order. His ability to play long innings and keep the scoreboard moving could be particularly valuable if Pakistan make early breakthroughs.
6. Adil Rashid — England
Rashid could play a major role during the middle overs. His leg-spin offers England a wicket-taking option against Pakistan’s batters, and his control could help prevent the hosts from building a match-winning total.
Official Squads
Pakistan ODI Squad
Shaheen Shah Afridi (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Salman Ali Agha, Arafat Minhas, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Muhammad Ghazi Ghori (wicketkeeper), Haris Rauf, Hasan Nawaz, Naseem Shah, Razaullah, Saad Baig (wicketkeeper), Saim Ayub, Shadab Khan and Sufiyan Moqim.
England ODI Squad
Harry Brook (captain), Gus Atkinson, Sonny Baker, Tom Banton, James Coles, Jordan Cox, Mason Crane, Henry Crocombe, Sam Curran, Liam Dawson, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Jamie Overton, Adil Rashid, Joe Root and Josh Tongue.
Player availability should be checked before the match, as fitness concerns or late changes could affect the final selections.
PAK vs ENG: Probable Playing XIs
The following are predicted lineups, not confirmed teams. The official playing XIs will be announced at the toss.
Pakistan Probable XI: Saim Ayub, Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, Salman Ali Agha, Hasan Nawaz, Saad Baig (wk), Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Shah Afridi (c), Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed.
England Probable XI: Tom Banton (wk), Ben Duckett, Joe Root, Harry Brook (c), Jordan Cox, Will Jacks, Sam Curran, Jamie Overton, Adil Rashid, Gus Atkinson, Josh Tongue.
Pakistan’s final combination may depend on the availability of its spin options and the balance required for the Rawalpindi surface. England will also need to select a combination capable of handling Pakistan’s pace attack.
Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium: Pitch Report
The Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium has generally produced competitive ODI surfaces, with conditions often allowing batters to score freely once they settle at the crease.
Fast bowlers may find some assistance with the new ball, making the opening overs important for both sides. Pakistan’s pace attack could look to exploit any early movement, while England will aim to negotiate that period before accelerating.
The exact pitch conditions for this fixture cannot be established in advance. Both captains will need to assess the surface before deciding how to approach the toss.
PAK vs ENG: Match Prediction
Pakistan have a strong chance of winning this match after their opening victory over Sri Lanka, which showcased their batting depth and pace-bowling strength. Playing at home should also provide confidence, particularly for a side that has already adapted to the conditions at Rawalpindi.
England, however, have the batting quality to challenge Pakistan. Brook and Root will be important to their chances, while Rashid could trouble the hosts during the middle overs.
The toss may influence the contest, especially if the pitch remains favourable for stroke-making. Pakistan’s home advantage and recent performance give them a slight edge, but England’s depth means the hosts cannot afford to relax.
Today’s Match Prediction: Chasing team to win the match.
Predicted winner: Pakistan
Pakistan are marginal favourites because of their home advantage and opening-match victory. However, the contest could be close, and the team batting second may have an advantage if conditions remain suitable for stroke-making.
