England opt to bowl first as Pakistan and England begin ODI tri-series in Rawalpindi

Over-by-over updates from Rawalpindi (9am BST)Brook relishing responsibility | Mail TimMorning everyone. Or should that be welcome back, my friends, to the show that never ends? Three weeks and two days after the last hurrah of the international summer, England are in action on the first of their five winter tours.That day at the Oval, England were unstoppable, piling up 355 and then bowling Sri Lanka out for 132, which was barely any more than Tom Banton had made off his own bat. Will Banton, Harry Brook, Jordan Cox, Gus Atkinson and Liam Dawson still be in top form now? It’s anyone’s guess. In cricket, the picture can change in the space of a drinks break. Continue reading...

England captain Harry Brook won the toss and opted to field first ahead of the One-day International tri-series opener at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Tuesday. Pakistan enter the fixture at the back of a 37-run over Sri Lanka in the opening match of the tri-series and would be looking to strengthen their position for an eventual place in the October 31 final. Losing the toss also against Sri Lanka, Pakistan bowlers were made to work hard in the second innings as heavy dew fell over the venue before a late collapse cost the high-flying visitors the match. Brook termed dew as the main reason behind his decision and hoped his team would restrict Pakistan and chase down the total with ease. The major chunk of Pakistan’s 305-run first-innings score against Sri Lanka came from Salman Ali Agha, whose rich vein of form in ODIs continued. While Salman flourished, former Pakistan skipper Babar Azam and debutant wicket-keeper Saad Baig showed signs of form as well as they put up 74-run partnership. Openers Fakhar Zaman and Saim Ayub, however, departed early and would be under the radar against England as they look to give Pakistan, who went into match with an unchanged XI, a flying start. Teams: PAKISTAN: Fakhar Zaman, Saim Ayub, Babar Azam, Saad Baig (wicket-keeper), 5 Salman Ali Agha, Hasan Nawaz, Arafat Minhas, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Shah Afridi (captain), Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah ENGLAND: Tom Banton, Ben Duckett, Joe Root, Harry Brook (captain), 5 Jordan Cox (wicket-keeper), Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Jamie Overton, Gus Atkinson, Adil Rashid, Sonny Baker

England head coach Brendon McCullum has warned his side they will need to adapt quickly to subcontinent conditions to compete against Pakistan and Sri Lanka, as the visitors prepare to face the hosts in the second match of the One-day International tri-series at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Tuesday. McCullum acknowledged Pakistan’s familiarity with home conditions and the challenge of winning away from home, but said England were eager to test themselves against two strong opponents in a competition that will also serve as preparation for next year’s 50-over World Cup. “Pakistan’s a very strong side,” McCullum said during a media talk on Monday. “When you come to this part of the world, you have to do things differently. Playing subcontinent teams in subcontinent conditions has its own challenges, but that’s something we’re looking forward to.” England arrive with momentum after three consecutive ODI series victories in 2026, but the prospect of facing Pakistan on their home ground presents a different examination. The visitors will also have to contend with Sri Lanka, with the top two sides from the double round-robin stage qualifying for the Oct 31 final in Lahore. McCullum said England wanted to be competitive against any opposition and in all conditions, rather than rely on a fixed approach. “We don’t have any kind of binary process of how we want to go about playing,” he said. “We want to just make sure that we play what’s in front of us, adapt as quick as we can, and hopefully try and play the best cricket we can to give ourselves a chance.” Pakistan, meanwhile, enter Tuesday’s fixture after beginning their campaign with a 37-run victory over Sri Lanka on Sunday. A match-winning century from Salman Ali Agha helped the hosts post 305 before their pace attack bowled Sri Lanka out for 268, giving captain Shaheen Shah Afridi’s side an encouraging start to the tournament. Salman’s unbeaten 107 off 90 balls was particularly significant after a difficult period in his international career. Having been left out of Pakistan’s T20 and Test sides, the middle-order batter returned to domestic cricket, where substantial first-class scores helped him regain form ahead of his comeback. Speaking after the Sri Lanka match, Salman called for greater recognition of performances in domestic cricket, saying: “I feel that we don’t give enough respect to our domestic cricket.” He argued that scoring runs at that level was not as straightforward as some critics suggested, adding that players had to work hard to earn their runs. His own return offered a timely illustration of how domestic cricket can help players rebuild confidence and address technical shortcomings before returning to the international stage. Salman’s innings also underlined the importance of Pakistan’s middle order against an England attack that includes experienced campaigners and several emerging players. His ability to anchor an innings while scoring at a healthy rate could prove valuable if Pakistan lose early wickets against England’s seamers. The hosts will also look to their fast bowlers to build on Sunday’s performance. Shaheen, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf and Faheem Ashraf shared all 10 Sri Lankan wickets, demonstrating the depth of Pakistan’s pace resources. However, Sri Lanka’s fifth-wicket partnership between Janith Liyanage and Pavan Rathnayake showed that Pakistan’s attack can be challenged if batters settle in. England, for their part, have assembled a squad combining established names with players seeking to establish themselves in the ODI side. Former captain Joe Root brings experience and stability, while Harry Brook, who leads the team in white-ball cricket, will be central to their batting plans. Will Jacks offers an additional option with both bat and ball, while leg-spinner Adil Rashid and all-rounder Sam Curran have returned to the squad after injuries. England will, however, be without Jos Buttler, who is recovering from a hamstring injury, while fast bowler Jofra Archer has been rested to manage his workload. The absence of two prominent players places added responsibility on the available squad to deliver in unfamiliar conditions. McCullum said the team understood the advantage Pakistan enjoyed at home but viewed the challenge as an opportunity to improve their adaptability. He also welcomed the chance to play in a tri-series, describing the format as a distinctive test because teams must adjust to different opponents in quick succession. “It’s a real opportunity in front of us,” he said, adding that England respected the strength of both Pakistan and Sri Lanka and would need to be at their best to reach the final. Tuesday’s match is the first of two meetings between Pakistan and England in the league stage. The sides will meet again in Lahore on Oct 25, while England face Sri Lanka in Rawalpindi on Thursday. With the final scheduled for Lahore on Oct 31, a strong start could prove decisive in the race for qualification.