Pakistan vs England ODI Tips, Rawalpindi Tri-Series
These Pakistan v England ODI tips for the Rawalpindi tri-series cover the second match of the 2026 Pakistan ODI tri-series, England's first one-day series in Pakistan in 21 years, with the hosts coming off a 37-run win over Sri Lanka and England missing Jos Buttler, Jofra Archer and Jacob Bethell.
Match Details: Pakistan vs England, 2nd Match
Below you'll find the match details, form and team news, conditions, a few angles to weigh, and where to check international cricket odds before you commit to anything.
- Fixture: Pakistan v England, 2nd match of the ODI tri-series with Sri Lanka
- Date and time: Tuesday 20 October 2026, 1pm local (9am BST), a day-night match
- Venue: Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium
- Format: Each side plays four round-robin matches, and the top two meet in the final at Lahore on 31 October
- Next meeting: Pakistan v England again at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, on Sunday 25 October
Form and Team News
Pakistan opened the series with a 37-run win over Sri Lanka. Salman Ali Agha made 107 off 90 balls and Pakistan reached 305, before Shaheen Afridi's attack took nine wickets between them to defend it, even as Pavan Rathnayake and Janith Liyanage put on 119 for the fifth wicket. Sri Lanka's captain Kusal Mendis won his fourth successive toss and fielded, and the dew came in during the chase. Babar Azam scored 45 off 57 balls, and Saad Baig made his ODI debut.
England arrive as tournament favourites after winning their home ODI series against Sri Lanka 2-1, though the squad is thinner than expected. Buttler is out after hamstring surgery, Archer is absent and Bethell has a knee injury. Sam Curran returns from a groin injury, and Harry Brook captains a side that includes Joe Root, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Adil Rashid and Gus Atkinson. Pakistan have won only 32 of 92 ODIs against England, and have never won a home ODI tournament involving more than two teams since 1994.
Conditions at Rawalpindi
Rawalpindi is known as a batting-friendly ground, and the opener showed it, with 305 posted and 268 made in reply. The dew mattered, which is why a bowling first decision looks attractive on a day-night game. You can follow the series through Sportsbet.io's cricket hub.
Pakistan vs England Odds: How the Market Sees It
England were the clear favourites with one US sportsbook, around -192 (about 1.52 in decimal odds) to Pakistan's +150 (2.50), in line with pre-series talk that England start as favourites. Not every preview agrees: one model gave Pakistan a 55% chance, citing home conditions and spin depth, so the market and the analysts disagree on how much the opening win and home advantage count.
Prices vary by bookmaker and will move after the toss. Sportsbet.io's sportsbook lets you switch between decimal, American and Hong Kong odds in your settings.
Pakistan vs England ODI Tips
None of the angles below are certainties in a format where dew and the toss can swing a match, but here's where the form and conditions point most clearly.
The toss and the chase
Sri Lanka won four straight tosses and chose to field in Rawalpindi, with Mendis saying he expected batting to be easier in the second innings. If the same dew arrives on Tuesday, chasing looks the more comfortable option, which makes the toss a bigger factor than usual.
Joe Root as England's top batter
Root has scored 575 runs in his last 10 ODI innings at an average of 95.83 and a strike rate of 88, the leading run-scorer across both sides' recent form. Top-batter markets are always a lottery, but he is the natural choice if you back England's batting.
Salman Ali Agha or Babar Azam for Pakistan
Salman Agha has 421 runs in his last 10 ODIs at an average of 52.63 and a strike rate near 107 and has just made a hundred. Babar scored 45 in the opener and has made just one ODI century in three years, though he averages 53.43 for his career. Salman Agha looks the likelier of the two on current form. Once the match starts, in-play cricket betting lets you react to the conditions.
Runs in the first innings
Rawalpindi's batting surface on a day-night ODI points towards a competitive first-innings total, as the 305 in the opener suggested. A total that high needs two strong batting units, which both teams have, but dew may help the chasing side.
How to Approach a Tri-Series
With only four round-robin matches each and a final to follow, early results matter. Compare prices across books rather than taking the first number you see, wait for the toss before committing to match-winner bets if you can, and weigh team news carefully since both sides are missing key players. The upcoming matches page shows what's listed across the series.
Betting Responsibly on International Cricket
A tri-series packs matches into two weeks, which can tempt you to keep adding bets as results come in. Treat every tip above as one opinion among many, not a guaranteed result, and set a budget for the whole series before the first ball rather than topping it up after each match.
Account tools such as deposit limits, loss limits, and time-outs help keep your betting within a budget you're comfortable with. Sportsbet.io's responsible gambling page explains how to set these up. Betting should stay entertainment, not a way to chase back a loss from an earlier match.
If gambling has stopped feeling like entertainment, confidential support is available from:
Age and identity checks apply, and betting is restricted to those who meet the legal gambling age and requirements in their jurisdiction. Check that online betting is permitted where you live before you place a bet.
FAQs: Pakistan vs England ODI
What time is Pakistan v England in the tri-series?
The match starts at 1pm local time on Tuesday 20 October, which is 9am BST, at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.
Who is in the Pakistan ODI tri-series?
Pakistan, England and Sri Lanka, with each side playing four round-robin matches before a final at Lahore on 31 October.
Is Jos Buttler playing in the tri-series?
No. Buttler is out after hamstring surgery, and Jofra Archer and Jacob Bethell are also unavailable.
Who won the first match of the tri-series?
Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by 37 runs, with Salman Ali Agha scoring 107.
