Sri Lanka meet England in the third match of the ODI tri-series at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on October 22, with both sides already a win behind an unbeaten Pakistan and needing a result to stay in contention for the final.
Kusal Mendis captains a Sri Lanka squad named without former captain Charith Asalanka or all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga, while opener Pathum Nissanka, initially included conditionally, has since been ruled out of the tour with a hamstring injury. The squad largely carries over from the group that lost 1-2 in England last month, leaving Mendis to build an attack and batting order without some of its most experienced recent performers.
Harry Brook's England arrive at the same injury-hit strength that saw them lose to Pakistan in the second match, still without Jos Buttler, who has not recovered from the hamstring injury that ruled him out of this tour, and Jacob Bethell, out with a knee issue. Jordan Cox is the leading option to keep wicket in Buttler's absence, after scoring 76 against Sri Lanka in England's own home series against them last month.
With Pakistan already on two wins from two games, both Sri Lanka and England are effectively playing knockout cricket within the group stage: a defeat here would leave the loser needing to win both remaining league fixtures just to have a chance of catching Pakistan for one of the two final spots. That stakes-raising context, more than any head-to-head history, is what defines this fixture.
With Nissanka out, Mendis and the middle order carry extra batting responsibility for Sri Lanka, while Cox's recent form makes him the standout differential pick for an England top order still adjusting to life without Buttler and Bethell.
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Squad and schedule details in this article are verified against same-day and freshly re-checked reporting as of October 21, 2026.
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