The pakistan national cricket team vs sri lanka national cricket team timeline reaches a new chapter on Friday, October 9, 2026, when the two sides meet in the first T20I of a three-match series at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. For Pakistan fans it is a home game under lights, for Sri Lanka it is a chance to reset after a rough few months, and for cricket fans in India it is a 6:30 PM IST watch. The pakistan national cricket team vs sri lanka national cricket team timeline is long, with Test series, World Cup chases, Asia Cup finals and a few moments that went far beyond cricket. This match preview covers the timeline, pitch report, stadium conditions, squads, stats, prediction and exactly where to watch in all three countries.
Match Details: Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, 1st T20I, Rawalpindi
| Detail | Information |
| Match | Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, 1st T20I (three-match series, Sri Lanka tour of Pakistan) |
| Date | Friday, October 9, 2026 |
| Venue | Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi |
| Format | 20 overs a side, night game |
| Captains | Sahibzada Farhan (Pakistan), Kusal Mendis (Sri Lanka) |
| Head coaches | Mike Hesson (Pakistan), Sanath Jayasuriya (Sri Lanka) |
| Next games | Sunday, October 11 and Tuesday, October 13, 2026, same venue and same start time |
Match Timings in Pakistan, Sri Lanka and India
| Country / Region | Start time (Oct 9, 2026) |
| Pakistan (Rawalpindi) | 6:00 PM PKT |
| Sri Lanka (Colombo) | 6:30 PM SLST |
| India | 6:30 PM IST |
| UAE (Dubai) | 5:00 PM GST |
| UK | 2:00 PM BST |
| USA, East Coast (Eastern) | 9:00 AM EDT |
| USA, West Coast (Pacific) | 6:00 AM PDT |
| GMT / UTC | 1:00 PM |
The toss usually takes place 30 minutes before the first ball. A few outlets have listed slightly different start times, so confirm on the official match centre before play.
Where to Watch Pakistan National Cricket Team vs Sri Lanka National Cricket Team
If you are asking where to watch pakistan national cricket team vs sri lanka national cricket team, the answer depends on where you live. This is the broadcast guide based on the latest listings for the series:
| Country | Where to watch |
| Pakistan | PTV Sports and A Sports on TV; Tapmad, Tamasha and the PCB live app for streaming |
| Sri Lanka | Dialog and PEO TV (SLT-MOBITEL) |
| India | FanCode app and website; some outlets also list Sony Sports Network and SonyLIV |
| USA and Canada | Willow TV and its digital platforms, as listed by streaming guides |
| UK and most other regions | Check local listings and the official cricket streaming apps, as rights vary by country |
Broadcast deals can change from one series to the next, so confirm on your local listings or the FanCode app on match day. If you are in India and the match does not appear on a TV channel, the digital stream is the safest option.
Series Schedule and Results So Far
| Date | Fixture | Result / Status |
| Oct 9 | 1st T20I, Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, Rawalpindi | Focus match |
| Oct 11 | 2nd T20I, Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, Rawalpindi | Upcoming |
| Oct 13 | 3rd T20I, Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, Rawalpindi | Upcoming |
| Oct 18 | ODI tri-series (with England), Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, Rawalpindi | Upcoming |
| Oct 27 | ODI tri-series (with England), Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, Lahore | Upcoming |
| November | Two-Test series | Upcoming |
These are the only confirmed home T20Is for Pakistan this season, which makes this short series more important than its length suggests. A busy home season of ODIs and Tests follows.
Match Preview: Form and Context
Pakistan. The hosts begin their home season with a changed T20I side. Sahibzada Farhan has replaced Salman Ali Agha as the T20I captain after leading Pakistan at the Asian Games, where they won silver but lost the final to India, who made 211 and then held Pakistan to 192/6. Babar Azam has been left out of the T20I squad, although he stays in the ODI group, while Fakhar Zaman and Naseem Shah are back. This is Pakistan’s first T20I assignment since the T20 World Cup earlier this year, where they edged Sri Lanka by 5 runs in the Super Eight stage at Pallekele after posting 212/8. Mike Hesson remains head coach, and former Australian pacer Shaun Tait has taken over as bowling coach from Ashley Noffke. At Rawalpindi, Pakistan have a solid recent record against this opponent, including a 6-wicket win in the November 2025 final.
Sri Lanka. The visitors arrive with a lot of questions. They lost the T20I series in England 3-0 last month, and the squad has seen major changes. Kusal Mendis returns as captain after missing the England tour with a hamstring injury, replacing Charith Asalanka, who led the side in his absence and has now been dropped from both the T20I and ODI squads. Pathum Nissanka and Wanindu Hasaranga are out injured, and Dushmantha Chameera has been picked subject to fitness. New faces include 21-year-old Sineth Jayawardena, who has been called up before even playing the LPL, spinner Vijayakanth Viyaskanth, and Chamindu Wickramasinghe, who has only three T20I caps. Sri Lanka also have happy memories of their last full bilateral T20I series in Pakistan, which they won 3-0 in 2019.
Pitch Report: Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium
The pitch at Rawalpindi has been a good batting surface in recent T20Is, with enough pace and bounce to keep the bowlers interested.
- Early overs: The new ball comes onto the bat nicely, and the seamers get a little carry in the powerplay. Naseem Shah, Chameera and Eshan Malinga will look to attack the stumps early.
- Middle overs: The surface slows down a little, and spinners have been effective in this phase. Abrar Ahmed picked up 10 wickets at this venue in the November 2025 tri-series, so spin can be a real wicket-taking option.
- Scoring: The highest T20I total listed at this ground is 195/5, while the lowest is 90. In the last meeting here between these two teams, Sri Lanka made 184/5 and won by 6 runs, with Pakistan reaching 178/7. A par score is somewhere around 170 to 185.
- Chasing: Pakistan chased 131 against Sri Lanka and 115 in the final during the tri-series, and the highest successful chase at this venue is 194/4, so chasing is a proven option under lights.
Stadium Conditions
- Location: Rawalpindi, Punjab, Pakistan (also called Pindi Stadium)
- Capacity: About 15,000
- Boundaries: Standard-sized boundaries with a fast outfield, so the ball races away when it is hit along the ground
- Lights: Full floodlights, and this T20I is a night game, so a little dew may help the side batting second
- History: The ground has hosted Tests, ODIs and T20Is for decades, including the 2025 tri-series in which Pakistan and Sri Lanka met three times
Weather Report: Rawalpindi on Match Day
The weather in Rawalpindi looks mostly clear for the first T20I. At the time of writing, the forecast for Friday shows sunshine, a high of around 30°C and a low of around 21°C, with only a 15 percent chance of rain. Evening conditions should be cooler and comfortable for a night game. The forecast for the second T20I on Sunday looks even better, at around 27°C with just a 5 percent chance of rain, and for the third T20I on Tuesday it is around 25°C with a 15 percent chance of rain. If any rain does arrive, a reduced-overs game under DLS is possible, but a full 20-over contest is expected.
Pakistan National Cricket Team vs Sri Lanka National Cricket Team Squads
Squad lists are below. Final playing XIs will be confirmed at the toss.
Pakistan squad: Sahibzada Farhan (c), Abdul Samad, Abrar Ahmed, Arafat Minhas, Fakhar Zaman, Hasan Nawaz, Muhammad Imran Randhawa, Khawaja Nafay (wk), Maaz Sadaqat, Naseem Shah, Razaullah, Saim Ayub, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Shadab Khan, Sufiyan Moqim.
Sri Lanka squad: Kusal Mendis (c), Kamil Mishara, Sineth Jayawardena, Lahiru Udara (wk), Sahan Arachchige, Kamindu Mendis, Dasun Shanaka, Chamindu Wickramasinghe, Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth, Dushmantha Chameera, Binura Fernando, Nuwan Thushara, Eshan Malinga.
Team management: Pakistan have Mike Hesson as head coach and Shaun Tait as bowling coach. Sri Lanka are guided by head coach Sanath Jayasuriya.
Predicted XIs (Not Official)
Pakistan: Saim Ayub, Sahibzada Farhan (c), Fakhar Zaman, Hasan Nawaz, Khawaja Nafay (wk), Abdul Samad, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Abrar Ahmed, Naseem Shah, Sufiyan Moqim.
Sri Lanka: Kamil Mishara, Sineth Jayawardena, Kusal Mendis (c), Lahiru Udara (wk), Kamindu Mendis, Sahan Arachchige, Dasun Shanaka, Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Dushmantha Chameera, Eshan Malinga.
Pakistan National Cricket Team vs Sri Lanka National Cricket Team Players to Watch
Pakistan
- Sahibzada Farhan: The captain and opener, who impressed at the 2026 T20 World Cup and scored 168 runs at a strike rate of 155.56 in the November 2025 tri-series at this ground
- Fakhar Zaman: The left-handed opener is back in the side, and he can win a game in the powerplay with his big hitting
- Saim Ayub: The stylish left-hander who gives the top order balance and also bowls a few overs of off-spin
- Naseem Shah: The pacer returns to the T20I side, and he is a genuine threat with the new ball
- Abrar Ahmed: The mystery spinner who took 10 wickets at Rawalpindi in the 2025 tri-series
- Shadab Khan: The all-rounder who adds depth with the bat and leg-spin in the middle overs
Sri Lanka
- Kusal Mendis: The returning captain, a stroke-maker who can score quickly at the top or in the middle order
- Kamil Mishara: Made 76 in Sri Lanka’s 6-run win over Pakistan at Rawalpindi in November 2025
- Dasun Shanaka: The finisher who hit an unbeaten 76 off 31 balls in the World Cup match against Pakistan
- Dushmantha Chameera: The quick who took 4/20 in that same win at Rawalpindi, as long as he is fully fit
- Maheesh Theekshana and Dunith Wellalage: The spin pair who can squeeze the middle overs
- Kamindu Mendis: The ambidextrous all-rounder who can bat in the middle order and bowl a few overs
- Sineth Jayawardena: The 21-year-old top-order batter who is an exciting young talent
Pakistan National Cricket Team vs Sri Lanka National Cricket Team Stats
| Measure | Detail |
| T20I head-to-head | 31 T20Is: Pakistan 18, Sri Lanka 12, 1 no result |
| ODI head-to-head | Pakistan have won roughly 60 percent of around 160 ODIs |
| Last meeting | Pakistan won by 5 runs, T20 World Cup Super Eight, Pallekele, Feb 28, 2026 (212/8 vs 207/6) |
| Last T20I at Rawalpindi | Pakistan won the 2025 tri-series final by 6 wickets (Sri Lanka 114, Pakistan 118/4) |
| Last T20I series in Pakistan before this one | Sri Lanka won 3-0 in Lahore in 2019 |
| Last T20I series in Sri Lanka | Drawn 1-1 at Dambulla in January 2026, with one game abandoned |
| Biggest ODI chase | Pakistan 345/4 vs Sri Lanka 344/9, World Cup, Hyderabad, Oct 10, 2023 |
| Latest ODI series | Pakistan won 3-0 in Rawalpindi in November 2025 |
| Best recent individual spell | Dushmantha Chameera 4/20 at Rawalpindi, November 27, 2025 |
| Best recent individual innings | Dasun Shanaka 76* off 31 balls at the 2026 T20 World Cup |
Head-to-head totals vary a little between websites, because some count the no-result game differently, but all agree that Pakistan hold the upper hand in T20Is and ODIs.
Pakistan National Cricket Team vs Sri Lanka National Cricket Team Timeline
- 1982: The two sides begin playing Test cricket against each other soon after Sri Lanka earn Test status
- June 21, 2009: Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by 8 wickets in the T20 World Cup final at Lord’s, led by Shahid Afridi
- March 2014: Sri Lanka beat Pakistan by 5 wickets in the Asia Cup final at Mirpur
- June 2017: Sri Lanka win by 3 wickets at the Champions Trophy in Cardiff, though Pakistan go on to win the title
- September-October 2019: Pakistan win the ODI series 2-0, but a Sri Lanka side missing several stars win the T20I series 3-0 in Lahore
- July 2022: The two-Test series in Galle is drawn 1-1, with Abdullah Shafique making 160 not out in Pakistan’s chase of 342
- September 11, 2022: Sri Lanka beat Pakistan by 23 runs in the Asia Cup final in Dubai to win their sixth title
- October 10, 2023: Pakistan chase 345 in the World Cup in Hyderabad, with Mohammad Rizwan scoring 131 not out and Abdullah Shafique 113
- November 2025: Pakistan sweep the ODI series 3-0 in Rawalpindi, winning by 6 runs, 8 wickets and 6 wickets
- November 22, 2025: Pakistan win by 7 wickets in the T20I tri-series, chasing 131 at Rawalpindi
- November 29, 2025: Pakistan win the tri-series final by 6 wickets, bowling Sri Lanka out for 114
- January 2026: The Dambulla T20I series is level at 1-1, with Pakistan winning the first by 6 wickets, the second abandoned and Sri Lanka winning the third by 14 runs
- February 28, 2026: Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by 5 runs at the T20 World Cup in Pallekele, even though Dasun Shanaka hits 76 not out off 31 balls
- October 2026: The Rawalpindi T20Is on October 9, 11 and 13, followed by the ODI tri-series and two Tests
Prediction: Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, Who Will Win?
Toss prediction: The captain who wins the toss will probably chase. Pakistan won two of their three games against Sri Lanka at this ground last year while batting second, and there will be a little dew under lights, so knowing the target is a clear benefit.
Predicted first-innings score: 170 to 190
Key battle: Naseem Shah against Kamil Mishara and Kusal Mendis. If Naseem gets early wickets in the powerplay, Sri Lanka’s inexperienced middle order will be under pressure. If the Sri Lankan openers survive, they can reach 180 or more.
Winner prediction: Pakistan. They have home advantage, a stronger batting line-up, depth in the spin department and a good recent record against Sri Lanka, who are missing Nissanka and Hasaranga and arrive after a 3-0 loss in England. I would put their chances at roughly 60 percent.
The upset route: Sri Lanka need Chameera and Malinga to pick up early wickets, a big innings from Kusal Mendis or Shanaka, and the spinners to control the middle overs. They won here batting first in November 2025, so they know it can be done. This is a prediction and not a guarantee, as T20 cricket can change in a single over.
FAQs
It runs from 1982 Tests, through the 2009 Lahore attack and Lord’s final, to the 2022 Asia Cup and Rawalpindi 2026.
6:30 PM IST on Friday, October 9, 2026.
FanCode app and website, with some outlets also listing Sony Sports and SonyLIV.
PTV Sports and A Sports on TV, with Tapmad, Tamasha and the PCB live app for streaming.
Pakistan are favourites on home advantage and batting depth, though Sri Lanka can upset them with early wickets.
He was left out of the T20I squad, although he is part of the ODI group for the tri-series.
A good batting surface with early seam, then some spin. Par scores are around 170 to 185.
