PAK vs SL Dream11 prediction & fantasy tips: Match 5 2026

Pakistan meet Sri Lanka in Match 5 of the Pakistan ODI Tri-Series 2026 (Pakistan, England, Sri Lanka) on Tuesday, 27 October 2026 at 2:00 PM IST. The venue is Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore. The squads below are the officially announced squads, not confirmed playing XIs, so check the lineups at the toss before locking your free-to-play team.

Pitch and conditions

MaidanBeat's own records since 2022 show 14 completed ODIs at Gaddafi Stadium. The average first-innings score is 285. Teams batting first and teams chasing have won seven each.

In our opinion, the even split means the toss offers no clear edge, so it makes sense to pick on player quality rather than on who bats first.

Squads

Pakistan: Shaheen Shah Afridi (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Salman Ali Agha, Arafat Minhas, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Muhammad Ghazi Ghori (wk), Haris Rauf, Hasan Nawaz, Naseem Shah, Razaullah, Saad Baig (wk), Saim Ayub, Shadab Khan and Sufiyan Moqim.

Sri Lanka: Kusal Mendis (captain), Pathum Nissanka, Avishka Fernando, Kamil Mishara, Pavan Rathnayake, Sahan Arachchige, Kamindu Mendis, Janith Liyanage, Dasun Shanaka, Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Sachindu Colombage, Dushmantha Chameera, Asitha Fernando, Dilshan Madushanka and Eshan Malinga.

According to the ICC, Pathum Nissanka was named in Sri Lanka's 16-player group but would travel only if declared medically fit. Confirm his place at the toss.

Form and head-to-head

Pakistan have won both of their tri-series matches so far: by 87 runs against England on 20 October, and by 1 wicket on 25 October (243/9 in 47.1 overs against England's 241). Sri Lanka beat England by 2 wickets on 22 October, reaching 430/8 in 49.5 overs after England made 429/4.

Pakistan won all three ODIs of the 2025 series in Pakistan: by 6 runs, 8 wickets and 6 wickets. They also won the 2023 World Cup meeting by 6 wickets, while Sri Lanka won the 2023 Asia Cup game by 2 wickets (DLS method). Wisden notes that four of Babar Azam's 20 ODI centuries have come against Sri Lanka.

Captain and vice-captain picks

Our lean for captain is Babar Azam, given the Wisden note on his record against Sri Lanka.

For vice-captain, Kusal Mendis is our pick, as Sri Lanka's captain and a name in the announced squad. Pathum Nissanka is an alternative only if he is confirmed in the XI at the toss, since he would travel only if declared medically fit. These are opinions based on the data above, not certainties.

Differential pick

Sahan Arachchige is a less obvious option. According to Wisden, he is on tour as a replacement for the injured Wanindu Hasaranga. This is a speculative opinion, and his place in the XI should be checked at the toss before you commit.