Pakistani players will swap their green shirts for pink on Sunday when they host Sri Lanka in the opening match of the ODI tri-series at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.
The jersey marks Breast Cancer Awareness Month, known as Pinktober. It is part of the Pakistan Cricket Board’s corporate social responsibility partnership with Pink Ribbon Pakistan.
Pakistani players will not be the only ones showing support. Sri Lankan players, match officials and the coaching staff will pin pink ribbons to their collars and shirts. The ground will carry pink branding on LED boundary boards, match-day signage and the stumps.
Commentators and presenters will also wear pink ribbons on the live broadcast and share awareness and prevention figures with viewers.
Pink matches already have a place in world cricket. South Africa made the idea famous with its Pink Day ODI at the Wanderers in Johannesburg, which supports breast cancer clinics.
On the cricket side, Pakistan trained at Pindi Stadium on Thursday under head coach Mike Hesson, who recently guided them to a 2-1 win over Sri Lanka in the T20I series at the same venue.
The squad gathered in Islamabad on Wednesday night. Pace bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi will lead the side, and Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Salman Ali Agha, Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf will also play in the series. Nine players from the recent T20I series will feature in the ODI team.
The series gives all three teams important preparation for next year’s World Cup in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia.
The tri-series runs from October 18 to 31 and includes six group matches and a final. Pakistan will play Sri Lanka in the opener on October 18, then face England in Rawalpindi on October 20. Sri Lanka and England will meet in Rawalpindi on October 22.
The action then moves to Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. Pakistan will play England on October 25 and Sri Lanka on October 27. Sri Lanka and England will meet again on October 29, while the final will take place in Lahore on October 31.
