Hi my friends! Maryam here. I hope you all are doing well today, and I hope your family is happy and healthy. So let’s start with some happy news.
I have a story that made me smile today. It is about cricket. But it is also about something much bigger than cricket — love, care, and saving lives. So let me tell you everything in simple words.
What Is Happening?
On Sunday, October 18, Pakistan will play Sri Lanka. It is also the first match of the ODI tri-series. The match will be played in Rawalpindi. But here is the special part. Our team will NOT wear their green jerseys. They will wear PINK jerseys.
Yes, pink! Our boys in pink. When I first heard this, I smiled. And when you hear the reason, you will smile too.
Why Pink?
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Many people also call it Pinktober. Pink is the color of the fight against breast cancer. The pink ribbon is the sign of this fight. You may have seen the pink ribbon before. So now you will see it on the cricket field too.
The Pakistan Cricket Board, or PCB, has joined hands with Pink Ribbon Pakistan. Pink Ribbon Pakistan is a group that works to spread awareness about breast cancer in our country. Together, they will run a big awareness drive during the match. You can learn more about Breast Cancer Awareness Month here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breast_Cancer_Awareness_Month
What Will the Pink Day Look Like?
The PCB has planned many beautiful things for this special day. Let me list them for you:
- Pakistan’s players will wear pink jerseys instead of green in the match against Sri Lanka.
- Players of both teams will wear pink ribbons. The match officials will wear them too. The coaches will wear them as well.
- The whole stadium will turn pink. The LED boards on the boundary will have pink branding. The match-day signs will be pink. Even the stumps will have pink on them.
- The commentators and TV presenters will wear pink ribbons. During the live broadcast, they will share facts about breast cancer prevention with viewers.
- And here is the best part. There will be free mammogram checkups for women. A mammogram is a simple test. It checks for breast cancer at an early stage.
Why Does Early Detection Matter So Much?
Now let me tell you why this matters so much. Breast cancer is a serious disease. It affects millions of women around the world every year. It also affects families. When a mother or sister gets sick, the whole family feels the pain.
But here is the hope. And I want you to remember this. The World Health Organization, or WHO, says that finding cancer early saves lives. When breast cancer is found at an early stage, treatment works much better. The chances of survival go up a lot. You can read the WHO fact sheet here: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/breast-cancer
This is why the free checkups matter so much. Many women do not get tested — some do not know about the test, some cannot afford it, and some are afraid. A free test removes one big problem. One test can save a life. Think about that. One simple test. One precious life.
If you are a woman reading this, please talk to your doctor about breast screening. If you are a man reading this, please tell the women in your family. Your mother, your wife, your sister, your daughter. This message can save someone you love.
Pakistan Is Not the First to Do This
Other teams have done this before, and it is a beautiful tradition. South Africa is famous for its Pink Day ODI. Every year, they wear pink in a one-day match in Johannesburg. They do it to support breast cancer clinics and raise money for the cause.
Now Pakistan is joining this tradition. I am proud of our board for this step. Cricket is loved by millions in our country. When our heroes wear pink, the message reaches every home. That is the power of sport.
The Cricket Side of the Story
Of course, there is also cricket to talk about! Let me give you the match details in simple words.
The team has been training hard at the Pindi Stadium. Head coach Mike Hesson is working with the players on batting, bowling, and fielding. The team is in good form. They just won the T20I series against Sri Lanka 2-1 at the same venue.
Shaheen Shah Afridi will lead the team as captain. Babar Azam is in the squad. Fakhar Zaman is there. Salman Ali Agha, Naseem Shah, and Haris Rauf are all part of the team too. Nine players from the recent T20I series are also in the ODI squad.
The tri-series has three teams: Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and England. There will be six group matches and then a final. Here is the simple plan:
- October 18: Pakistan vs Sri Lanka in Rawalpindi (the pink match!)
- Two days later, on October 20: Pakistan vs England in Rawalpindi
- October 22: Sri Lanka vs England in Rawalpindi
- Then, on October 25: Pakistan vs England in Lahore
- October 27: Pakistan vs Sri Lanka in Lahore
- Two days after that, on October 29: Sri Lanka vs England in Lahore
- Finally, on October 31: The final in Lahore
This series is also good practice for the ODI World Cup in 2027. That World Cup will be held in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia.
If you want the full schedule with all details, read my earlier article about this tri-series: https://pakunfiltered.com/2026/10/16/pakistan-vs-sri-lanka-and-england-odi-tri-series-starts-october-18-full-schedule-and-what-to-expect/
My Final Thoughts
Cricket is not just a game. Sometimes it becomes a message. On Sunday, when you see our team walk out in pink, remember what it stands for — the mothers, sisters, daughters, and wives who are fighting this disease, and also hope and life.
At Pak Unfiltered, we love stories like this. Stories where sports and kindness meet. I hope this pink match inspires more women to get checked. Do not be afraid. Do not wait. Early action saves lives.
Take care, everyone! If you have questions about this story, or if you want to share your own thoughts, please ask me. You can reach us through our Contact Us page at https://pakunfiltered.com/contact-us/. I always love hearing from you.
