Joe Root Closes in on 8000 ODI Runs as England Face Pakistan

England begin their ODI Tri-Nations Series campaign against Pakistan at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, with Joe Root needing 97 runs to become the first English batter to score 8,000 runs in the format. Pakistan enter the match after beating Sri Lanka by 37 runs in the tournament opener, while England arrive following a strong run of results in one-day cricket.

According to The News Mill, Root has accumulated 7,903 runs in 195 ODI matches and 184 innings at an average of 50.66 and a strike rate of 87.68. His record includes 20 centuries, 48 half-centuries and a highest score of 166 not out.

Root has scored 573 runs in nine ODI innings in 2026 at an average of 114.60, including one century and five half-centuries. His highest score this year is 111 not out. In 2025, he recorded 808 runs in 15 matches at an average of 57.71, with three centuries and four half-centuries.

Since England's disappointing campaign at the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup, Root has produced 1,381 runs in 24 ODI innings at an average of 72.68, including four centuries and nine half-centuries. Former captain Eoin Morgan remains England's second-highest ODI run-scorer with 6,957 runs, followed by Jos Buttler with 5,678.

Pakistan secured their opening victory against Sri Lanka through a century from Salman Agha and an effective bowling performance. Agha scored 107 off 90 balls as Pakistan posted 305, while Babar Azam contributed 45 off 57 deliveries. Sri Lanka were dismissed from contention in the 49th over, finishing with 268 runs.

Pakistan captain Shaheen Shah Afridi led the bowling attack with figures of 3 for 55. Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf and Faheem Ashraf each claimed two wickets, helping the hosts improve their ODI record for 2026 to four wins and three losses, according to Fubo's match preview.

England enter the tournament after winning their home ODI series against Sri Lanka 2-1 and recording a series victory over India, according to The News Mill and LiveScore. Fubo's preview also noted that England had won four of their previous five matches and were seeking to extend their recent success against Pakistan.

The England squad includes Root, captain Harry Brook, Tom Banton, Ben Duckett, Jordan Cox, Will Jacks, Jamie Overton, Liam Dawson, Gus Atkinson, Sonny Baker, Adil Rashid, Mason Crane, Sam Curran, Josh Tongue, Henry Crocombe and James Coles. Cox strengthened his case for a regular place after scoring 76 off 52 balls against Sri Lanka on September 27, following Jos Buttler's hamstring injury.

Pakistan's squad features Fakhar Zaman, Saim Ayub, Babar Azam, wicketkeeper Saad Baig, Salman Agha, Hasan Nawaz, Arafat Minhas, Faheem Ashraf, captain Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed, Shadab Khan, Ghazi Ghori, Sufyan Moqim and Razaullah.

The match also marks England's first ODI in Pakistan since December 21, 2005, when the teams met in the fifth match of a five-game series in Rawalpindi. According to Sportstar, England won that match by six runs, although Pakistan claimed the series 3-2 under captain Younis Khan.

The current tournament follows a double round-robin format involving England, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, with each team scheduled to face the others twice before the final. After the opening fixtures in Rawalpindi, the competition moves to Lahore for the remaining group matches and the final between the top two teams.