Pakistan set England a target of 303 runs in the second match of the 2026 tri-nation ODI series at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Tuesday. England won the toss and elected to bowl first, putting Pakistan under early pressure as the hosts lost wickets in the opening stages of their innings.
Pakistan suffered their first setback on the very first ball when Fakhar Zaman was caught by Joe Root off Gus Atkinson’s bowling without scoring. Saim Ayub was the next batter to depart after scoring eight runs, leaving Pakistan struggling at 31. Babar Azam followed after contributing 34 runs, bowled by Will Jacks with the team total at 59.
Despite the early setbacks, Pakistan recovered to post 302 for nine in their allotted 50 overs, setting England a target of 303 runs to win. Pakistan’s playing XI for the match comprises Fakhar Zaman, Saim Ayub, Babar Azam, Saad Baig, Hassan Nawaz, Salman Ali Agha, Arafat Minhas, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf. Pakistan entered the match on the back of a winning start to the series, having defeated Sri Lanka by 37 runs in the opening game.
Pakistan suffered an early setback when opener Fakhar Zaman was dismissed for a duck, caught by Joe Root off Gus Atkinson’s bowling without a run on the board. Saim Ayub scored eight runs before being dismissed, while Babar Azam contributed 34. Saad Baig made 35 runs, and Salman Ali Agha was dismissed for 16.
For England, Gus Atkinson has taken two wickets, while Adil Rashid, Will Jacks and Sonny Baker have claimed one wicket each. The match marks the first ODI between Pakistan and England on Pakistani soil since December 21, 2005. England won that match, but Pakistan went on to clinch the five-match series 3-2. England also played three ODIs in Pakistan during the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy campaign, losing all three matches.
In the latest ICC ODI rankings, England are placed fourth, while Pakistan occupy fifth position. England recently defeated Sri Lanka 2-1 in an ODI series, but their last ODI series victory in Pakistan came during the 1987-88 season. Meanwhile, Pakistan have remained unbeaten in their last three ODI series on home soil. The national side have also lost just one of their last 10 ODIs played in Rawalpindi.