Pakistan opener Fakhar Zaman has said the tri-series against Sri Lanka and England gives his side a valuable chance to try out team combinations before the 2027 ODI World Cup.
Pakistan open their campaign against Sri Lanka at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Sunday. England complete the three-team event, which takes place ahead of next year’s World Cup, to be staged in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia.
Fakhar outlines planning ahead of the global event
Fakhar said the players were enthusiastic about the challenge and had already started preparing for the tournament, though some of those plans would stay out of public view. Speaking to reporters on Friday, he said: “There are a lot of plans regarding the tri-series, some of which you cannot make public.”
He added that the World Cup was always in the team’s thoughts. Pakistan intend to perform well in the tri-nation series while also building a combination, because the side has not played many one-day matches for a long time.
The squad blends experienced figures such as Babar Azam, Salman Ali Agha and captain Shaheen Shah Afridi with younger options, including Saim Ayub, Hasan Nawaz and wicketkeeper Saad Baig.
Recent first-class form seen as an advantage
Fakhar, Pakistan’s only man to score a double century in men’s one-day internationals, believes the players’ recent first-class cricket will help them cope with the demands of 50-over matches. He said: “The best thing about the combination is that all the boys are coming after playing the first-class season. So everyone is in rhythm.”
He also argued that players who have grown used to long first-class days find 50 overs less daunting than those who mainly play T20 cricket.
Pakistan have recorded encouraging results in recent ODI series. They swept Sri Lanka 3-0 at home in November 2025 and beat South Africa 2-1. They then defeated Australia by the same margin at home in May and June 2026, after losing 2-1 away to Bangladesh in March.
Pressure on senior players and the wait for silverware
Fakhar said the team understood the pressure on senior players to deliver, accepting that criticism comes with the role when results fall short. He said: “When you perform, you get appreciation from fans. When you don’t do well, then it is natural that things don’t feel good.”
Pakistan have reached major tournament finals and semi-finals in recent years but have struggled to convert those appearances into titles. Fakhar said the squad was excited but aware that it has been a long time since the team won a big event.
He also described the emotion of lifting a trophy for the nation, saying that feeling cannot be matched by reaching finals or semi-finals alone.
