England batsman Joe Root is on the verge of creating history as he closes in on becoming the first English cricketer to score 8,000 runs in men's ODI cricket. The player needs just 97 more runs to reach the milestone as England prepare to begin their tri-nation series campaign against Pakistan in Rawalpindi.
Pakistan entered the contest with confidence as they defeated Sri Lanka by 37 runs in their opening match of the tournament. England will look to carry forward their recent success in the 50-over format as they secured home ODI series victories against Sri Lanka and India. Root's form will be crucial as England aim to make a strong start to their campaign.
Joe Root's ODI numbers and recent form
Root has amassed 7,903 runs in 195 ODIs and 184 innings at an average of 50.66 and a strike rate of 87.68. The batsman has also registered a total of 20 centuries and 48 half-centuries, including a career-best unbeaten 166. He is currently the leading run-scorer for England in men's ODIs, far ahead of the former skipper Eoin Morgan and current wicketkeeper-batter Jos Buttler.
Morgan finishes second on the list of the all-time leading run-scorers for England in ODIs with a total of 6,957 runs in 225 matches, including 13 centuries. Buttler comes in at third with a tally of 5,678 runs in 204 matches and 11 centuries.
Root has been in tremendous form in the 50-over format this year, notching up 573 runs in nine innings at an average of 114.60 and a strike rate of 88.01. In the same period, he has also scored a century and five half-centuries, with his highest score being an unbeaten 111.
The veteran batsman had also enjoyed a rich 2025, compiling a total of 808 runs in 15 ODIs at an average of 57.71 and a strike rate of 95.50. In the process, he scored three centuries and four half-centuries, indicating his continued value in the middle order for England.
Root's revival of the 50-over game has been nothing short of spectacular after England's dismal show at the 2023 ICC Men's Cricket World Cup. He has scored 1,381 runs in 24 matches and innings at an average of 72.68, with four centuries and nine half-centuries since then.
With the prospect of reaching the milestone of 8,000 runs in ODIs in sight, Root has another opportunity to cement his spot as England's leading ODI batter during the tri-nation series.
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Pakistan and England squads for the tri-nation series
Both teams have fielded strong squads for the tri-nation series, with Pakistan looking to their fast bowling attack and a wealth of batting talent, whereas England will be looking to Root and captain Harry Brook to spearhead their attack.
Pakistan squad: Fakhar Zaman, Saim Ayub, Babar Azam, Saad Baig (wk), Salman Agha, Hasan Nawaz, Arafat Minhas, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Afridi (c), Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed, Shadab Khan, Ghazi Ghori, Sufyan Moqim, Razaullah.
England squad: Tom Banton, Ben Duckett, Joe Root, Harry Brook (c), Jordan Cox (wk), Will Jacks, Jamie Overton, Liam Dawson, Gus Atkinson, Sonny Baker, Adil Rashid, Mason Crane, Sam Curran, Josh Tongue, Henry Crocombe, James Coles.