The Gaddafi Stadium pitch report for the PAK vs SL Final points to a good batting surface, with the side batting first holding a slight edge on record. A first-innings score of around 250 is par based on the venue average of 251, though Pakistan were bowled out for 110 here in the 5th Match. The weather forecast shows a sunny day with no rain. The match is on Saturday, October 31, 2026, at 1:00 PM local time (1:30 PM IST) in Lahore, with the toss at 1:00 PM IST.
Sri Lanka beat Pakistan by eight wickets in the 5th Match at this ground on October 27, which secured their place in the final. Pakistan had won the first meeting by 37 runs, so the final is the third meeting between the two sides in the tri-series. Shaheen Afridi leads Pakistan, and Kusal Mendis captains Sri Lanka. In India, live streaming is reported to be on Veto, and no TV telecast has been reported.
Gaddafi Stadium Pitch Report for PAK vs SL Final
| Factor | What to Expect |
|---|---|
| Pitch type | Good for batting, with scores dropping in the chase, based on the venue record |
| Par first-innings score | Around 250 (venue average: 251) |
| Best for batting | The first innings, though the highest chase here is 356/5 |
| Fast bowlers | New ball in the powerplay, as Dilshan Madushanka took 5/34 in the 5th Match |
| Spinners | To be confirmed, though they can help control the middle overs |
| Boundaries | To be confirmed |
| Dew | Humidity is 49%, so heavy dew looks less likely, though this is not confirmed |
| Toss advantage | Batting first has won 47 ODIs here and bowling first 44 |
Phase-by-Phase Pitch Behaviour
| Phase | How the Pitch Is Likely to Play |
|---|---|
| Powerplay (1 to 10) | Early wickets can swing the game, as Pakistan found in the 5th Match. Pakistan have Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf, while Sri Lanka have Dilshan Madushanka, Dushmantha Chameera and Asitha Fernando |
| Middle overs (11 to 40) | Spinners can help control the scoring. Pakistan have Abrar Ahmed, Shadab Khan and Sufyan Moqim, and Sri Lanka have Dunith Wellalage and Maheesh Theekshana |
| Death overs (41 to 50) | Scoring should rise, and the highest total here is 386/5 in 50 overs by England against Sri Lanka |
| Second innings | The average is 217, and the highest chase is 356/5 in 47.3 overs by Australia against England |
How the Pitch Plays at Gaddafi Stadium
Details on the soil, bounce and grass cover have not been confirmed. The venue stats show 93 ODIs, with 47 won batting first and 44 won bowling first. Scores drop in the chase, from an average of 251 in the first innings to 217 in the second.
The highest total here is 386/5 by England against Sri Lanka, and the highest chase is 356/5 in 47.3 overs by Australia against England, which shows that big targets can be chased on this ground. The lowest total is 75/10 in 22.5 overs by Pakistan against Sri Lanka, and the lowest score defended is 170/8 in 40 overs by West Indies against Pakistan. In the 5th Match, Pakistan were bowled out for 110 in 25.3 overs and Sri Lanka chased it down with 114/2 in 18.1 overs.
Must Read: PAK vs SL Final Live Streaming
Lahore Weather Forecast for PAK vs SL Final
The forecast for Saturday points to a sunny and dry day.
| Detail | Forecast |
|---|---|
| Conditions | Sunny |
| Temperature | 29°C high, 17°C low, with about 29°C in the afternoon and 24°C at 8 PM |
| Rain chance | 0% |
| Humidity | 49% |
| Wind | 6 km/h |
No rain is forecast, so a full 50-over match is expected. The temperature will fall from about 29°C in the afternoon to around 24°C by 8 PM, and humidity of 49% means heavy dew is less likely, although this is not confirmed. Light wind of 6 km/h should not affect the play.
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Gaddafi Stadium ODI Records and Stats
| Record | Details |
|---|---|
| Matches played | 93 |
| Won batting first | 47 |
| Won chasing | 44 |
| Average first-innings score | 251 |
| Average second-innings score | 217 |
| Highest total | 386/5 (50 overs) by England vs Sri Lanka |
| Lowest total | 75/10 (22.5 overs) by Pakistan vs Sri Lanka |
| Highest score chased | 356/5 (47.3 overs) by Australia vs England |
| Lowest score defended | 170/8 (40 overs) by West Indies vs Pakistan |
The ground has a capacity of 27,000 and hosts Lahore. It also hosts hockey.
Must Read: West Indies vs Bangladesh 2026 Schedule
PAK vs SL ODI Head-to-Head
| Matches | Pakistan Won | Sri Lanka Won | Tie or No Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 162 | 97 | 60 | 5 |
Must Read: India A vs New Zealand A 2026 Schedule
What Should the Captains Do at Gaddafi Stadium?
Bat first if the toss is won. Batting first has won 47 of 93 ODIs here, and the average first-innings score of 251 is well above the second-innings average of 217. No rain is forecast, and low humidity makes heavy dew less likely. Sri Lanka chased easily in the 5th Match, so a total of 250 or more would put real pressure on the chasing side. Use the new ball well in the powerplay, because early wickets can swing the game, as Madushanka showed with his 5/34. Use spin in the middle overs to slow the scoring, as both sides have spinners in Abrar Ahmed, Shadab Khan, Dunith Wellalage and Maheesh Theekshana. Plan for the afternoon heat and the cooler evening, and have a plan for the final overs, because big totals have been made and chased at this ground.
Also Read: PAK vs SL Final 2026: List of Umpires
