Pakistan face Sri Lanka in the opening match of the Pakistan ODI Tri-Series 2026. This PAK vs SL Dream11 Prediction is for the scheduled 1st ODI / 1st Match on 18 October 2026 at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi. The match starts at 1:30 PM IST, 8:00 AM GMT and 1:00 PM PKT. Pakistan and Sri Lanka have named ODI squads, but the playing XIs and toss are not confirmed. Treat every fantasy team as a pre-toss draft and check the official XI before entering a contest.
Pakistan won the most recent three-match ODI series between these teams 3-0 at this ground in November 2025. That is useful same-format context, but it is not proof of the result here. The October 2026 Pakistan-Sri Lanka T20I scores are separate context and are not used as ODI form.
In This Match Preview
Match Details
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Match | Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, 1st Match / 1st ODI |
| Competition | Pakistan ODI Tri-Series, 2026 |
| Date | Sunday, 18 October 2026 |
| Venue | Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi |
| Start Time | 1:30 PM IST / 8:00 AM GMT / 1:00 PM PKT |
| Status | Future fixture; toss and playing XI not confirmed |
Team Form
The verified same-venue ODI head-to-head sample inspected is the three-match Rawalpindi series in November 2025. These tables are historical venue context, not a complete account of either team’s latest ODI form. No current tri-series match had been played by the cutoff.
Pakistan Verified ODI Venue Sample
| Date | Opponent | Team Score | Opponent Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 Nov 2025 | Sri Lanka | 299/5 | 293/9 | ✓ WIN by 6 runs |
| 14 Nov 2025 | Sri Lanka | 289/2 | 288/8 | ✓ WIN by 8 wickets |
| 16 Nov 2025 | Sri Lanka | 215/4 | 211 all out | ✓ WIN by 6 wickets |
Pakistan’s strongest individual returns in that sample came from Salman Ali Agha’s 105 not out in the first ODI, Babar Azam’s unbeaten 102 in the second and Mohammad Rizwan’s unbeaten 61 in the third. Haris Rauf took four wickets in the first game and three in the second. The 2026 ODI squad is different in places, so old scorecard figures should guide, not decide, selection.
Sri Lanka Verified ODI Venue Sample
| Date | Opponent | Team Score | Opponent Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 Nov 2025 | Pakistan | 293/9 | 299/5 | ✕ LOSS by 6 runs |
| 14 Nov 2025 | Pakistan | 288/8 | 289/2 | ✕ LOSS by 8 wickets |
| 16 Nov 2025 | Pakistan | 211 all out | 215/4 | ✕ LOSS by 6 wickets |
Sri Lanka still had useful batting signals. Wanindu Hasaranga made 59 in the first ODI, Janith Liyanage made 54 in the second and Sadeera Samarawickrama made 48 in the third. Those players are not all in the 2026 ODI squad, so the current roster matters more than the old scorecard when making a card.
The three October 2026 T20Is should not be blended into these tables. Pakistan won the first two T20Is, while Sri Lanka won the third. That recent T20 sequence is a different format, with different squads and different fantasy roles.
PAK vs SL Dream11 Prediction Pitch Report
Rawalpindi’s historical ODI venue sample contains 31 completed ODIs. The listed average first-innings score is 242, the average second-innings score is 218, with 12 wins batting first and 18 wins bowling first. The highest listed ODI total is Pakistan’s 337/3 against New Zealand, which is also the highest successful chase in the venue record.
This is historical ground context, not a current-tri-series sample. No 2026 tri-series match had been completed at Rawalpindi by the research cutoff. The three November 2025 Pakistan-Sri Lanka ODIs at this ground produced scores of 299/5, 293/9, 288/8, 289/2, 211 and 215/4. That small sample shows two possible paths: a good batting surface can support totals around 280–300, while pace and low bounce can make the third match much harder for the batting side.
For fantasy selection, top-order batters remain valuable because they can face the most balls. Babar Azam and the likely Sri Lanka openers fit that route. New-ball fast bowlers also have a clear role. Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf and Asitha Fernando can collect points through wickets even if the pitch is not a high-scoring surface. On a slower pitch, Abrar Ahmed, Sufiyan Moqim, Maheesh Theekshana and Dunith Wellalage become conditional options because middle-over wickets may matter more than late hitting.
All pitch reads are provisional. Toss, surface inspection and the final XI can change the balance between pace, spin and batting depth.
Head-To-Head
There is no completed meeting in the 2026 tri-series at the cutoff because this is the opening fixture. The latest completed ODI head-to-head sample is the three-match Rawalpindi series in November 2025, which Pakistan won 3-0. Pakistan scored 299/5, 289/2 and 215/4. Sri Lanka scored 293/9, 288/8 and 211 all out.
That ODI history should not be confused with the recent T20I meetings in Rawalpindi. The T20I results are separate format context and do not establish ODI form, ODI head-to-head or an ODI fantasy edge.
Probable Playing XIs — Not Confirmed
These are roster-backed editorial candidates. They are not announced XIs. The Pakistan candidates use the official 16-player ODI squad, while the Sri Lanka candidates use the official 16-player ODI squad. Pathum Nissanka is subject to fitness on the squad listing.
Pakistan Probable XI
| No. | Player | Editorial Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Saim Ayub | AR |
| 2 | Fakhar Zaman | BAT |
| 3 | Babar Azam | BAT |
| 4 | Hasan Nawaz | BAT |
| 5 | Salman Ali Agha | AR |
| 6 | Shadab Khan | AR |
| 7 | Saad Baig | WK |
| 8 | Shaheen Shah Afridi | BOWL |
| 9 | Haris Rauf | BOWL |
| 10 | Naseem Shah | BOWL |
| 11 | Abrar Ahmed | BOWL |
Sri Lanka Probable XI
| No. | Player | Editorial Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pathum Nissanka | BAT |
| 2 | Kamil Mishara | BAT |
| 3 | Avishka Fernando | BAT |
| 4 | Kusal Mendis | WK |
| 5 | Kamindu Mendis | AR |
| 6 | Janith Liyanage | AR |
| 7 | Dasun Shanaka | AR |
| 8 | Maheesh Theekshana | BOWL |
| 9 | Dushmantha Chameera | BOWL |
| 10 | Asitha Fernando | BOWL |
| 11 | Dilshan Madushanka | BOWL |
These tables are wider-roster projections, not confirmation. Ghazi Ghori, Arafat Minhas, Faheem Ashraf, Razaullah, Sufiyan Moqim, Sahan Arachchige, Pavan Rathnayake, Sachindu Colombage, Eshan Malinga and Dunith Wellalage remain possible replacements. Check the final XI before using any selection.
Six Dream11 Teams
PAK vs SL Dream11 Prediction combinations below cover ODI batting time, pace wickets and spin-led conditions. Choose the scenario that fits the toss and confirmed roles.
Each selection below is a provisional match scenario. Confirm the playing XI, role labels, credits and contest rules in your app.
Team 1: Balanced Core
A balanced pre-toss build that covers both top orders and three reliable wicket-taking routes. Use as the small-league baseline if both expected XIs are close to the squad core.
View Player Names And Roles
WK: Kusal Mendis
BAT: Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Kamil Mishara, Pathum Nissanka
AR: Salman Ali Agha, Saim Ayub
BOWL: Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Maheesh Theekshana, Dushmantha Chameera
Captain: Babar Azam · Vice-Captain: Shaheen Shah Afridi
Risk: Babar brings the strongest recent ODI batting evidence, while Shaheen offers new-ball and death-over upside. Confirm both in the XI and check app roles and credits.
Team 2: Pakistan Chase Script
Pakistan top-order control after a successful chase or a flat first innings. Prefer if Pakistan bats second or the toss points to a good chasing surface.
View Player Names And Roles
WK: Ghazi Ghori, Kusal Mendis
BAT: Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Kamil Mishara, Pathum Nissanka
AR: Salman Ali Agha, Saim Ayub
BOWL: Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah, Asitha Fernando
Captain: Fakhar Zaman · Vice-Captain: Babar Azam
Risk: The combination leans on Pakistan’s 2025 ODI chase wins. Kamil and Pathum retain new-ball batting exposure for a counter-scenario.
Team 3: Sri Lanka Top-Order Upside
A grand-league build for a Sri Lanka batting platform with Pakistan’s key strike threats retained. Use if Sri Lanka bats first or the pitch looks best for strokeplay before the second innings.
View Player Names And Roles
WK: Kusal Mendis
BAT: Kamil Mishara, Pathum Nissanka, Avishka Fernando, Babar Azam
AR: Kamindu Mendis, Janith Liyanage, Saim Ayub
BOWL: Maheesh Theekshana, Abrar Ahmed, Shaheen Shah Afridi
Captain: Pathum Nissanka · Vice-Captain: Kamindu Mendis
Risk: Nissanka carries a fitness caveat and must be confirmed. Kamindu adds a two-skill path; this build is more exposed if Sri Lanka lose early wickets.
Team 4: New-Ball Pace Pressure
A pace-heavy script where early movement and hard lengths decide the match. Prefer if the surface has visible grass or the toss winner chooses to bowl under lights.
View Player Names And Roles
WK: Ghazi Ghori, Kusal Mendis
BAT: Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, Avishka Fernando
AR: Faheem Ashraf, Kamindu Mendis
BOWL: Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Asitha Fernando
Captain: Haris Rauf · Vice-Captain: Shaheen Shah Afridi
Risk: The 2025 Rawalpindi ODIs supplied strong pace evidence, including Rauf’s four-wicket haul and Wasim’s three-for. Asitha is the Sri Lanka pace hedge.
Team 5: Spin And Middle-Overs Control
A grand-league team built around middle-over spin, batting depth and a slower Rawalpindi surface. Use if the pitch looks dry or the XI includes multiple spin options.
View Player Names And Roles
WK: Kusal Mendis
BAT: Babar Azam, Hasan Nawaz, Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara
AR: Salman Ali Agha, Shadab Khan, Kamindu Mendis
BOWL: Abrar Ahmed, Sufiyan Moqim, Maheesh Theekshana
Captain: Shadab Khan · Vice-Captain: Maheesh Theekshana
Risk: The historical ODI sample is larger than the current tournament sample. Shadab, Abrar, Sufiyan and Theekshana are upside picks rather than app-verified certainties.
Team 6: Sri Lanka Defense And All-Round Cover
A contrarian grand-league build for Sri Lanka defending a competitive total, with Pakistan’s main counterpunchers covered. Use if Sri Lanka bats first, posts a strong total and selects a spin/seam mix suited to defending.
View Player Names And Roles
WK: Kusal Mendis
BAT: Avishka Fernando, Pathum Nissanka, Babar Azam
AR: Kamindu Mendis, Sahan Arachchige, Saim Ayub
BOWL: Maheesh Theekshana, Asitha Fernando, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf
Captain: Kamindu Mendis · Vice-Captain: Shaheen Shah Afridi
Risk: Kamindu offers batting and bowling routes. Pathum carries a squad-page fitness caveat, so confirm his availability before using this scenario and repair the card if he is not selected.
Captain And Vice-Captain Choices
PAK vs SL Dream11 Prediction captain picks should match the confirmed role, not just the biggest name. Here are the evidence-led options.
| Player | Choice | Evidence And Condition | Main Risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Babar Azam | Captain candidate | Scored 102 not out in the latest completed ODI series against Sri Lanka and has a top-order role. | A new-ball wicket or a slow surface can reduce his time at the crease. |
| Shaheen Shah Afridi | Captain or vice-captain candidate | Leads the ODI side and has a high-value new-ball role. Rawalpindi’s 2025 ODI sample included pace wickets. | He may bowl expensive spells if the surface is easy for batting. |
| Haris Rauf | Grand-league captain candidate | Took 4/61 and 3/66 in the first two 2025 ODIs in the relevant venue sample. | Past figures are not a guarantee, and he may concede runs at the death. |
| Kusal Mendis | Sri Lanka vice-captain candidate | Wicketkeeper-batter and captain, with points available through batting and keeping. | His scoring depends on surviving Pakistan’s opening pace. |
| Kamindu Mendis | Conditional vice-captain candidate | The squad lists him as an allrounder, giving two possible scoring routes. | His exact batting position and bowling workload are not confirmed. |
Toss-day repair checklist: Confirm both captains and vice-captains are in the XI. Replace any omitted player with the same editorial role where possible. Recheck the 7-player maximum for either side. Verify app credits, app roles, wicketkeeper status and the 100-credit rule inside the fantasy app. Reassess Pathum Nissanka’s fitness note before selecting him.
Top 3 Player Battles
- Babar Azam vs Maheesh Theekshana: Babar’s control against spin can shape the middle overs, while Theekshana’s accuracy makes him a threat if the ball grips. The pick depends on pitch pace and whether Babar faces him early.
- Fakhar Zaman vs Dushmantha Chameera: Fakhar attacks length and can change the powerplay. Chameera’s pace and hard length offer Sri Lanka a route to an early wicket. This is a style matchup, not a claimed direct ball-by-ball record.
- Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis vs Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf: Sri Lanka’s top order must handle Pakistan’s pace at both ends of the innings. If the ball moves, Pakistan’s quicks gain value; if it comes on cleanly, Sri Lanka’s anchors can build a large total.
Top Players To Look Out For
Babar Azam is the safest evidence-led batting watch because of his 102 not out in the last completed ODI series between the teams. Shaheen Shah Afridi combines captaincy with a new-ball role. Haris Rauf has the strongest recent wicket sample from the three Rawalpindi ODIs. For Sri Lanka, Kusal Mendis carries both wicketkeeping and batting involvement, while Kamindu Mendis offers a possible allround route. These are opportunities, not performance promises.
Match Winner Prediction
Pakistan have the stronger recent ODI head-to-head record at this venue, winning all three matches in November 2025. They also have a settled pace group in the named ODI squad. The modest pre-toss lean is Pakistan, but the data set is small and the 2026 XIs are not confirmed. A strong Sri Lanka top-order start or a slow pitch that brings their spinners into the game could change the balance.
For more match-led fantasy reading, explore the 4xSports Dream11 Guides.
FAQs
When Is The PAK vs SL Dream11 Prediction Match?
The 1st ODI / 1st Match is scheduled for 18 October 2026. It starts at 1:30 PM IST, 8:00 AM GMT and 1:00 PM PKT.
Where Is Pakistan vs Sri Lanka Being Played?
The match is scheduled at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi, Pakistan.
Are The Playing XIs Confirmed?
No. The probable XIs in this draft are roster-backed editorial candidates. The toss and official XIs were not available by the 15 October research cutoff.
Who Are The Main Fantasy Captain Picks?
Babar Azam is the leading batting captain candidate. Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf are conditional bowling options. Kusal Mendis and Kamindu Mendis are Sri Lanka alternatives, depending on their confirmed roles and the pitch.
Should The October Pakistan-Sri Lanka T20I Results Be Used As ODI Form?
No. The T20Is are separate context. This draft uses the latest completed ODI sample and the named 2026 ODI squads.
Is Pathum Nissanka Available?
The Sri Lanka ODI squad page lists him subject to fitness. His availability must be checked again when the team announces its XI.
What Must Be Checked In The Fantasy App?
Check final XI status, credits, app roles, wicketkeeper designation, the 100-credit limit and the maximum players from one side. Editorial roles in this article are not app verification.
