PAK vs SL Tri-Series 2026: Salman Agha 107, Pakistan Win by 37
Published on October 18, 2026
Summary Overview: Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by 37 runs in the ODI tri-series opener in Rawalpindi. Salman Agha hit 107 off 90, and Shaheen Afridi took 3 for 55 as Sri Lanka collapsed late. Full report, squads and next fixtures.
Who won? Pakistan, by 37 runs at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. They made 305 in 49.5 overs and bowled Sri Lanka out for 268 in 48.1 overs.
Who starred? Salman Agha hit 107 off 90 balls and was named Player of the Match. Captain Shaheen Afridi took 3 for 55, and Babar Azam made 45.
What was the key moment? Sri Lanka were 253 for 5 in the 44th over, needing 53 from 39 balls. They then lost four wickets for 7 runs and never recovered.
What's next? Pakistan vs England on Tuesday, October 20 in Rawalpindi.
Match Report: Agha Rebuilds, Sri Lanka Fall Short
This was the first match of the Pakistan ODI Tri-Series, which also includes England. Sri Lanka arrived after losing the T20I series 2-1 in Rawalpindi, and Pakistan started the 50-over leg with a win.
For readers new to cricket: in a One Day International (ODI), each team bats for up to 50 overs (an over is six legal deliveries). A team wins by runs when it bats first and the other side cannot reach its total.
Pakistan's Innings: Agha's Hundred
Sri Lanka captain Kusal Mendis won the toss and chose to bowl. Left-armer Dilshan Madushanka removed both openers early: Saim Ayub (7) and Fakhar Zaman (16), leaving Pakistan 32 for 2.
Babar Azam (45 off 57) and wicketkeeper Saad Baig (39 off 40) steadied things with a stand of 74, but both fell to Eshan Malinga within 13 balls. At 118 for 4 in the 22nd over, Pakistan needed someone to take charge.
Salman Agha did exactly that. He added 97 off 93 balls with Hasan Nawaz (37) and then 64 off 46 with Arafat Minhas (18). Agha reached his century and finished on 107 off 90 balls, with 10 fours and a six, before he was caught off Asitha Fernando at 291.
Pakistan then lost three wickets for 2 runs, slipping to 293 for 9, but Shaheen's 13 not out helped them past 300. They were all out for 305 with one ball left. Malinga was Sri Lanka's best bowler with 4 for 46, and Asitha Fernando took 3 for 59.
Sri Lanka's Chase: Rathnayake and Liyanage Fight Back
Naseem Shah removed Avishka Fernando (5) early, and Faheem Ashraf had Kusal Mendis caught for 18. When Shaheen removed Kamindu Mendis (44) and Sahan Arachchige (3), Sri Lanka were 91 for 4 in the 20th over.
Then Pavan Rathnayake and Janith Liyanage gave Sri Lanka real hope. They added 119 off 107 balls for the fifth wicket. Rathnayake hit 79 off 74, with six fours and two sixes, before Faheem had him caught by Agha at 210 for 5.
Liyanage carried on to 60 off 74, and Dasun Shanaka smashed 28 off 18. At 253 for 5 in the 44th over, with 53 needed from 39 balls, the game was wide open.
Turning Point: Four Wickets for 7 Runs
In the 44th over, Haris Rauf had Liyanage caught by Babar at 253 for 6. Four balls later, Shaheen removed Shanaka, also caught by Babar.
Naseem then had Sachindu Colombage caught behind, and Eshan Malinga was run out next ball by Babar and Saad Baig. Sri Lanka went from 253 for 5 to 260 for 9, losing four wickets for 7 runs in 14 balls. Rauf bowled Asitha Fernando to end the match with 11 balls left.
Babar finished with two catches and a run-out, an important contribution in the field on top of his 45.
Stat Corner
Top Performers
| Player | Team | Performance |
| Salman Agha | Pakistan | 107 (90), 10 fours, 1 six (Player of the Match) |
| Babar Azam | Pakistan | 45 (57), 2 catches, 1 run-out |
| Shaheen Afridi (c) | Pakistan | 3 for 55 (10 overs) and 13* |
| Naseem Shah | Pakistan | 2 for 43 (10 overs) |
| Haris Rauf | Pakistan | 2 for 48 (9.1 overs) |
| Pavan Rathnayake | Sri Lanka | 79 (74), 6 fours, 2 sixes |
| Janith Liyanage | Sri Lanka | 60 (74) |
| Eshan Malinga | Sri Lanka | 4 for 46 (9.5 overs) |
| Asitha Fernando | Sri Lanka | 3 for 59 (10 overs) |
* not out
How the Game Turned
| Moment | Score |
| Madushanka's early strikes | Pakistan 32 for 2 (5.5 overs) |
| Babar and Baig both out | Pakistan 118 for 4 (21.5 overs) |
| Agha and Nawaz stand | 97 off 93 balls for the 5th wicket |
| Pakistan all out | 305 (49.5 overs) |
| Sri Lanka in trouble | 91 for 4 (19.3 overs) |
| Rathnayake and Liyanage stand | 119 off 107 balls for the 5th wicket |
| The late collapse | 253 for 5 to 260 for 9 (four wickets for 7 runs) |
| Sri Lanka all out | 268 (48.1 overs) |
Powerplay Comparison
| Team | First 10 overs |
| Pakistan | 54 for 2 |
| Sri Lanka | 42 for 1 |
Extras
| Team | Extras conceded | Wides |
| Sri Lanka (bowling) | 17 | 11 |
| Pakistan (bowling) | 20 | 17 |
Naseem Shah bowled 10 wides on his own but still went for only 43 from his 10 overs.
Squads
Pakistan
| Role | Players |
| Playing XI | Saim Ayub, Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, Saad Baig (wk), Salman Agha, Hasan Nawaz, Arafat Minhas, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Afridi (c), Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf |
| Bench | Abrar Ahmed, Shadab Khan, Ghazi Ghori, Sufyan Moqim, Razaullah |
Sri Lanka
| Role | Players |
| Playing XI | Avishka Fernando, Kamindu Mendis, Kusal Mendis (c, wk), Pavan Rathnayake, Sahan Arachchige, Janith Liyanage, Dasun Shanaka, Sachindu Colombage, Eshan Malinga, Asitha Fernando, Dilshan Madushanka |
| Bench | Kamil Mishara, Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Lahiru Udara, Dushmantha Chameera |
Tri-Series Table After Match 1
| Team | Played | Won | Lost | Net Run Rate |
| Pakistan | 1 | 1 | 0 | +0.740 |
| England | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.000 |
| Sri Lanka | 1 | 0 | 1 | -0.740 |
Net run rate compares how fast a team scores with how fast its opponents score. A team that is bowled out is counted as having faced its full 50 overs.
What's Next
| Match | Date | Fixture | Venue | Local (PKT) | IST | ET |
| 2nd Match | Tue, Oct 20 | Pakistan vs England | Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium | 1:00 PM | 1:30 PM | 4:00 AM |
| 3rd Match | Thu, Oct 22 | Sri Lanka vs England | Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium | 1:00 PM | 1:30 PM | 4:00 AM |
| 4th Match | Sun, Oct 25 | Pakistan vs England | Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore | 1:00 PM | 1:30 PM | 4:00 AM |
| 5th Match | Tue, Oct 27 | Pakistan vs Sri Lanka | Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore | 1:00 PM | 1:30 PM | 4:00 AM |
| 6th Match | Thu, Oct 29 | Sri Lanka vs England | Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore | 1:00 PM | 1:30 PM | 4:00 AM |
| Final | Sat, Oct 31 | Top two teams | Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore | 1:00 PM | 1:30 PM | 4:00 AM |
Local time is Pakistan Standard Time (PKT, UTC+5). IST is India Standard Time (UTC+5:30). ET is US Eastern Daylight Time (UTC-4). In the UK, matches start at 9:00 AM (BST) until October 22, then 8:00 AM (GMT) from October 25, after the clocks go back. In Sri Lanka, matches start at 1:30 PM.
What Sri Lanka need: with five league games still to come, one defeat is far from fatal. But Sri Lanka now need to beat England at least once, and probably twice, to reach the final.
After the tri-series, Sri Lanka stay in Pakistan for two Tests, starting with a warm-up in Islamabad from November 4.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won Pakistan vs Sri Lanka in the ODI tri-series?
- Pakistan, by 37 runs at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.
Who was Player of the Match?
- Salman Agha, for his 107 off 90 balls.
Who took the most wickets?
- Eshan Malinga, with 4 for 46 for Sri Lanka. Shaheen Afridi led Pakistan with 3 for 55.
Who is in the tri-series?
- Pakistan, Sri Lanka and England. Each team plays the other two twice, and the top two meet in the final on October 31 in Lahore.
When does Pakistan play England?
- Tuesday, October 20, 2026, in Rawalpindi, at 1:00 PM local time (1:30 PM IST).
Related Guides and Series Coverage
📋 Pakistan vs Sri Lanka 3rd T20I 2026: Kusal Mendis' 87 Earns Sri Lanka a Consolation Win
📋 Pakistan vs Sri Lanka T20I Series 2026: Dropped Catches Cost Sri Lanka