Pakistan vs England: 2nd Match Prediction & Preview | Pakistan ODI Tri-Series

Pakistan vs England, 2nd ODI – Match Preview

A blockbuster encounter in the Pakistan-hosted ODI tri-series will light up the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Tuesday, 20 October 2026, as Pakistan take on England in the second match of the seven-match tri-nation series. The toss is set for 12:30 pm PKT, with Match start corresponding to 09:00 GMT.

Series Context

This tri-series, running from 18 to 31 October 2026 across Rawalpindi and Lahore, serves as a crucial preparatory window ahead of the 2027 ICC Men's Cricket World Cup. Pakistan, England, and Sri Lanka will each face one another twice during the league stage, with the top two teams qualifying for the final on 31 October in Lahore.

The opening match saw Pakistan take on Sri Lanka, and this fixture marks England's first game of the tournament. England arrive in Pakistan following a hot streak of three consecutive ODI series victories, including wins over Sri Lanka and India — a run that has reinvigorated their white-ball campaign after a difficult spell.

For Pakistan, the agenda extends beyond silverware. With the World Cup within reach, the Men in Green are using this tournament to nail down their strongest combinations, test young talent, and evaluate their bowling attack across all phases of the 50-over game.

Recent Form

• Pakistan: Have won three of their last four ODI series — beating South Africa (2-1), Sri Lanka (3-0), and Australia (2-1), with a lone away defeat to Bangladesh. They enter this match coming off a 2-1 T20I series win over Sri Lanka, though the management caution that ODI success requires a different approach.
• England: Enter on the back of back-to-back series victories over India and Sri Lanka, with both decided in deciding matches — a habit captain Harry Brook wants to keep.

Head-to-Head

Pakistan have a respectable record against England in ODIs, having won 32 of 92 matches played (with 3 no results). However, recent encounters and England's current momentum suggest this rivalry remains fiercely contested.

Venue & Weather

The Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium is known for producing surfaces that offer pace, bounce, and assistance to seam bowlers — conditions that could mirror those Pakistan may face in South Africa ahead of the World Cup. However, the pitch can also serve up decent batting tracks, with even bounce and a ball that comes properly onto the bat.

• Pitch Condition: Fast & Bounce
• Batting: Average
• Pace Bowling: Swing favourable
• Spin Bowling: Average
• Weather: Cloudy (scattered clouds), ~25°C, humidity 47%, light winds

The pace and bounce make this a prime venue to watch Pakistan's fast-bowling attack — particularly new-ball partners Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah — and England's ability to adapt their aggressive approach to challenging conditions.

Players to Watch

Pakistan:

• Shaheen Shah Afridi (Captain): Can the pace leader replicate his 2019–21 ODI heroics with the new ball?
• Babar Azam: The anchor at No. 3 — can he stabilize the innings while keeping the scoring rate healthy?
• Naseem Shah: Versatility across all three bowling phases will be key.
• Abrar Ahmed: A potential game-changer in the middle overs.
• Arafat Minhas: Looking to build on an outstanding ODI debut.

England:

• Harry Brook (Captain): The talismanic batter will look to unleash his aggressive style in Pakistani conditions.
• Joe Root: Experience and innings-building could prove decisive in tight spots.
• Will Jacks: Providing attacking batting and extra bowling flexibility.
• Josh Tongue: Expected to lead England's pace attack in the absence of Jofra Archer.

Team Squads

Pakistan: Shaheen Shah Afridi (C), Abrar Ahmed, Salman Ali Agha, Arafat Minhas, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Muhammad Ghazi Ghori (WK), Haris Rauf, Hasan Nawaz, Naseem Shah, Razaullah, Saad Baig (WK), Saim Ayub, Shadab Khan, Sufiyan Muqeem.

England: Harry Brook (C), Gus Atkinson, Sonny Baker, Tom Banton, James Coles, Jordan Cox (WK), Mason Crane, Henry Crocombe, Sam Curran, Liam Dawson, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Jamie Overton, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Josh Tongue.

What to Expect

Pakistan and England are widely tipped as the favourites to reach the final. Pakistan's home advantage and experienced squad will be tested by England's dangerous batting lineup and quality bowling options. If England's senior players deliver and their less experienced bowlers adapt quickly to the conditions, they could cause serious problems for the Men in Green.

For Pakistan, the key questions revolve around their bowling attack's consistency and whether their middle order can provide enough support to the top three. The margin between these two sides is likely to be small — making this a must-watch fixture as both teams set the tone for their World Cup preparations.

Don't miss this clash as Pakistan look to build momentum at home, while England aim to prove their recent form is no fluke.