The Pakistan-England-Sri Lanka ODI tri-series begins today following a trophy unveiling ceremony and a press conference featuring the captains of all three teams, who shared their expectations and plans ahead of the competition.
England captain Harry Brook credited the Pakistan Super League (PSL) with playing a significant role in his career, recalling how he arrived in Pakistan as a 22-year-old with limited international experience before eventually becoming captain of the England national team.
Pakistan captain Shaheen Shah Afridi, meanwhile, said the team was assessing players ahead of the 2027 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, while Sri Lanka captain Kusal Mendis acknowledged that his side was going through a transition phase and needed time to establish itself as a strong unit.
Responding to a question by our correspondent about how he planned to maintain his fitness amid England’s demanding international schedule, Brook said he wanted to play as much cricket as possible for his country and was working hard to remain fit.
“As I have already said, I want to play as much cricket as possible for England. I am working hard to stay fit and continue serving my country,” Brook said.
Brook also reflected on his journey since featuring in the PSL in 2022, when he was a 22-year-old with limited international experience. Responding to another question by our correspondent about the tournament’s impact on his development, Brook said the PSL had played an important role in his career.
“I came here as a 22-year-old who did not have international experience, and I performed. The PSL played a very important role in my career,” he said. Pakistan captain Shaheen Shah Afridi said the team management was continuing to assess its options for the 2027 World Cup, providing opportunities to players to ensure they were prepared to deliver whenever selected.
Responding to a question by our correspondent about how close Pakistan were to finalising their World Cup squad, Shaheen said the team was still evaluating players and combinations.
“We are looking at the World Cup team and giving players opportunities so that whenever anyone gets a chance, they are ready to perform,” he said.
Asked by our correspondent how much Babar Azam’s presence helped him as captain, Shaheen described the experienced batter’s guidance as valuable, given his extensive leadership experience with the national side.
“Having Babar Azam around is very helpful because he has captained Pakistan for a long time and is still leading the Test team,” Shaheen said.
Sri Lanka captain Kusal Mendis admitted that his team had yet to consistently translate individual performances into collective success.
Responding to a question by our correspondent about the reasons behind the gap between individual contributions and overall team performances, Mendis said Sri Lanka were going through a transition phase and that players had been informed of their respective responsibilities.
“We are going through a transition phase as a team. We have explained the roles to our players, and we need some time. Our team will become a very good side,” Mendis said.
The tri-series will provide all three sides with an opportunity to test their combinations and assess their preparations for future international assignments, with Pakistan and Sri Lanka looking to build consistency and England aiming to maintain their competitive edge in ODI cricket.