Preparations have begun for the seven-match ODI tri-series between Pakistan, Sri Lanka and England. The Pakistan Cricket Board said ODI captain Shaheen Shah Afridi and six other squad members have arrived at the team hotel in Islamabad: Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Salman Ali Agha, Haris Rauf, Saad Baig and Ghazi Ghori.
Pakistan are due to begin preparations with a training session at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Thursday, October 15, where Pakistan and Sri Lanka are scheduled to train at 4pm.
Geo Super reported that the PCB confirmed England's 33-member contingent, including their 16-player squad, will arrive in Islamabad on Friday morning. England will be without fast bowler Jofra Archer and former captain Jos Buttler. Buttler suffered a hamstring injury during the second ODI against Sri Lanka at Headingley, while Archer took just one wicket in that series. Leg-spinner Adil Rashid and all-rounder Sam Curran return after recovering from injuries, and Glamorgan leg-spinner Mason Crane has earned a maiden ODI call-up. Harry Brook leads a squad that also includes Joe Root and Ben Duckett.
Pakistan open against Sri Lanka at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on October 18 and face England at the same venue on October 20. Sri Lanka play England in Rawalpindi on October 22 before the teams move to Lahore, where Pakistan meet England on October 25 and Sri Lanka on October 27 at Gaddafi Stadium. Sri Lanka and England play the last group match on October 29, and the top two sides contest the final at Gaddafi Stadium on October 31.
Pakistan go into the tournament after winning the three-match T20I series against Sri Lanka 2-1. Led by Sahibzada Farhan, they won the first two matches before Sri Lanka took the third in Rawalpindi on October 13.