Pakistan’s Under 17 men’s team starts a five match one day series against Sri Lanka Under 17s today, October 15, at the Multan Cricket Stadium. The one day leg follows a drawn three day fixture between the sides at the same venue earlier in the month, and will run through October 24 as both teams contest a compact bilateral programme designed to test skills in red ball and white ball formats.
What is scheduled and who is playing
The series opener in Multan is the first of five 50 over matches arranged between Pakistan and Sri Lanka Under 17s. The full schedule sets matches for October 15, 17, 19, 21 and 24, with all fixtures played at the Multan Cricket Stadium.
Pakistan have named a 16 player squad for the one day series. Azan Ahmed will captain the side, accompanied by a group featuring wicketkeeper Arsalan Hassan and several names already making an impression in domestic youth competitions. The full Pakistan squad announced by the Pakistan Cricket Board includes Abdullah Ahmed Butt, Daud Tauqeer Rana, Fahad Iqbal, Hamid Raza, Hamza Abbas Baloch, Hassan Ali, Mohammad Essa Baloch, Mohammad Ihsaan, Mohammad Naveed, Mohammad Saim, Mohammad Yaqoob Khan, Mohammad Yousaf, Sher Wali Khan and Sudais Ahmed. Four reserve players are named as backup.
Recent form and key players to watch
The two teams had already met in a three day match at Multan from October 9 to 11, which ended in a draw. Pakistan’s Mohammad Yousaf scored a notable 161 in that drawn encounter, underlining his potential as a leading bat in the home side’s ranks. The three day match provided both sides a chance to gauge balance and temperament in the longer format before switching to one day cricket.
For Pakistan, the one day series represents an opportunity to evaluate how promising youngsters convert their red ball form into fifty over cricket. Mohammad Yousaf, Azan Ahmed and a number of pace and spin prospects are likely to attract attention from national youth selectors. Sri Lanka arrive having completed practice sessions in Multan and with a squad that has already adapted to local conditions during the three day match.
Broadcast, officials and logistics
All matches at Multan will be live streamed in Pakistan on domestic platforms Tamasha and Tapmad, while international viewers can follow the fixtures on the Pakistan Cricket Board’s official YouTube channel. The PCB also released match official appointments for each one day game ahead of the series, naming on field umpires and match referees for the five fixtures.
Holding the entire bilateral programme at a single ground reduces travel and simplifies scheduling, and it allows young players to acclimatise to pitch and weather conditions across several matches. For the PCB, staging the tour in Multan continues a recent pattern of hosting youth international fixtures at established provincial venues to broaden exposure for local fans and staff.
Why the series matters
At the Under 17 level, bilateral tours have two interlinked purposes. The first is development, giving match time in international conditions to players who are still early in their pathways to under 19 and senior representative sides. The second is assessment, enabling national coaches and selectors to observe how players perform against foreign opposition while under tournament style pressure.
For Pakistan cricket in particular, youth series are watched closely because they feed the domestic pipeline and highlight prospects who may progress into the Under 19 and A team squads. Performances from this series will inform selection conversations ahead of regional youth competitions and any upcoming ICC age group events.
Context in Pakistan’s home season
The youth series in Multan sits alongside a busy domestic calendar the Pakistan Cricket Board has been developing, including national age group tournaments and a recent women’s domestic schedule. The PCB has emphasised grassroots and skills development in 2026 as the pathway to rebuild depth after several high profile gaps at senior level in recent seasons.
By staging foreign youth teams for full bilateral programmes, the PCB aims to provide repeated, high quality opposition for Pakistan’s younger squads. For Multan and the surrounding cricket infrastructure, the games bring attention and provide local coaches, umpires and match staff experience in a formally organised international youth series.
What to expect next
Expect match reports and score updates from the first match later today, with full scorecards and streaming replays available through the Pakistan Cricket Board’s digital channels. Over the next week and a half, selectors will monitor batting conversions, bowling control and fielding standards as teams contest the five one day matches.
For followers of Pakistan cricket, the series is a chance to spot early talent and to see whether players who impressed in the three day game can translate that temperament to the faster rhythm of one day cricket.
