Pakistan eye tri-series final as England fight for survival

Pakistan will aim to secure their place in the ODI tri-series final when they face England at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium on Sunday.

The match, scheduled to begin at 1pm PST, presents contrasting challenges for both sides. Pakistan have won their opening two games, defeating Sri Lanka by 37 runs and England by 87 runs. Another victory would confirm their place in the October 31 final.

England, meanwhile, are under pressure after losing both their opening matches. They must defeat Pakistan to keep their hopes of reaching the final alive, with all-rounder Will Jacks confident his side can recover.

Pakistan captain Shaheen Shah Afridi said his team would concentrate on maintaining its winning momentum and following its game plan rather than focusing on the opposition.

Shaheen expressed confidence in Pakistan’s bowling attack, saying the team would aim to restrict England to around 250 runs if asked to bowl first.

He also backed openers Saim Ayub and Fakhar Zaman, highlighting their importance to the team. Shaheen praised Saim’s batting, bowling and fielding contributions, while describing Fakhar as a key figure in Pakistan’s ODI setup.

The captain said Pakistan were still working towards their ideal team combination. He also praised spinner Abrar Ahmed and suggested he could feature when conditions favour spin. Shaheen stressed the importance of having a specialist all-rounder at number eight and indicated that T20I captain Sahibzada Farhan could receive opportunities in future matches as the team prepares for upcoming World Cup commitments.

England’s Will Jacks said his side remained determined to turn its campaign around. He acknowledged the challenge ahead, noting that England needed victories in their remaining matches to remain in contention for the final.

Jacks also anticipated favourable batting conditions in Lahore but said the team would assess the pitch following training before finalising its approach.