Sri Lanka Tour of Pakistan 2026

Series hub · Updated 2026-10-18 · CBTF Punters analysis team

Sri Lanka tour of Pakistan 2026: series overview

Sri Lanka's 2026 tour of Pakistan is one of the longest tours of the season, running for six weeks from 9 October to 21 November. It has three parts: a three-match T20I series in Rawalpindi, an ODI tri-series with England in Rawalpindi and Lahore, and a two-Test series that counts towards the ICC World Test Championship.

Pakistan took the T20I series 2–1 with a young, experimental side led by new T20I captain Sahibzada Farhan. The ODI tri-series, an important build-up event for the 2027 ODI World Cup, began on 18 October with Pakistan vs Sri Lanka in Rawalpindi.

PAK vs SL 2026 full schedule, match timings (IST) & results

Pakistan Standard Time is 30 minutes behind India. A 1:30 PM start in Pakistan is 2:00 PM IST. Test start times will be added once confirmed.

PAK vs SL T20I series recap: Pakistan win 2–1

1st T20I, Rawalpindi (9 Oct): Sri Lanka batted first, with Lahiru Udara scoring 91 off 55 balls, and set Pakistan 183 to win. On his debut as full-time T20I captain, Sahibzada Farhan made a fifty and added 92 with Maaz Sadaqat, who hit 50 off 29 balls. Pakistan won by 4 wickets with 7 balls left. Naseem Shah took three wickets, Mohammad Imran picked up two on debut, and Dushmantha Chameera reached 100 T20I wickets.

2nd T20I, Rawalpindi (11 Oct): Pakistan sealed the series with a big win. Maaz Sadaqat smashed 96 off 51 balls with seven sixes, and Farhan made 73 off 44 as Pakistan reached 215 for 3. Sri Lanka finished on 133 for 7, losing by 82 runs. Mohammad Imran took 3 for 11 in four overs.

3rd T20I, Rawalpindi (13 Oct): Sri Lanka took a consolation win. Farhan top-scored again with 76 as Pakistan made 168 for 8, with Dasun Shanaka taking 3 for 21. Kusal Mendis then hit an unbeaten 87 off 48 balls, and Sri Lanka chased the target with 17 balls to spare to win by 8 wickets. Mendis was player of the match.

Standout players: Sahibzada Farhan (two fifties and a 76), Maaz Sadaqat, Mohammad Imran and Naseem Shah for Pakistan; Kusal Mendis, Lahiru Udara and Dasun Shanaka for Sri Lanka.

Pakistan vs Sri Lanka 1st ODI preview: tri-series opener (18 Oct)

Venue: Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium · Time: 1:30 PM PKT / 2:00 PM IST (day-night)

Toss: Sri Lanka won the toss and chose to bowl first. Pakistan handed an ODI debut to wicketkeeper Saad Baig.

Team news: Pakistan are led by Shaheen Shah Afridi, with Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman in the batting line-up. Mohammad Rizwan is not in the squad. Sri Lanka are without opener Pathum Nissanka, who was ruled out of the tri-series, and leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga, who is injured. Sahan Arachchige came in as Hasaranga's replacement.

Rawalpindi pitch report for PAK vs SL

Rawalpindi is a high-scoring ground with true bounce and a fast outfield. The T20Is earlier on this tour produced totals of 183, 215 and 168. In a day-night ODI, evening dew can make the ball harder to grip in the second innings, which is one reason Sri Lanka chose to bowl first. A par score batting first is likely to be well above 300.

Key battles

• Shaheen Shah Afridi vs Kusal Mendis: Sri Lanka's captain was in top form in the final T20I, and Shaheen's new-ball spell will test him early.
• Babar Azam vs Maheesh Theekshana: Theekshana's control in the middle overs against Pakistan's most experienced batter.
• Dilshan Madushanka vs Fakhar Zaman: Left-arm pace with the new ball against Pakistan's attacking left-handed opener.

PAK vs SL fantasy cricket tips

Captain options: Babar Azam, Kusal Mendis, Shaheen Shah Afridi.
Vice-captain options: Fakhar Zaman, Kamindu Mendis, Haris Rauf.
Differentials: Dunith Wellalage, Saim Ayub, Dasun Shanaka. Check the confirmed playing XI before locking your team. More strategy in our captain selection guide.

Pakistan ODI tri-series 2026 guide (PAK vs SL vs ENG)

The tri-series runs from 18 to 31 October. Pakistan, Sri Lanka and England each play the other two teams twice in a round-robin, three matches in Rawalpindi and three in Lahore. The top two teams on the points table meet in the final at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, on 31 October. All seven matches are day-night games.

England arrive with a reshuffled squad led by Harry Brook, with Joe Root, Ben Duckett and Adil Rashid among the experienced names. Jos Buttler (hamstring surgery) and Jacob Bethell (knee) are missing through injury.

Pakistan's matches: vs Sri Lanka (18 Oct, Rawalpindi), vs England (20 Oct, Rawalpindi), vs England (25 Oct, Lahore), vs Sri Lanka (27 Oct, Lahore).
Sri Lanka's matches: vs Pakistan (18 Oct), vs England (22 Oct, Rawalpindi), vs Pakistan (27 Oct, Lahore), vs England (29 Oct, Lahore).

Pakistan vs Sri Lanka Test series 2026

After the tri-series, Sri Lanka play a three-day warm-up in Islamabad (4–6 November), followed by two Tests that count towards the ICC World Test Championship 2025–27:

• 1st Test: 9–13 November, Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium
• 2nd Test: 17–21 November, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore

This is Pakistan's second home Test series of the WTC cycle. Test squads, start times and full previews will be added closer to the matches.

Pakistan, Sri Lanka & England ODI tri-series squads

Squads as announced. Changes for injuries will be updated here.

Pakistan cricket venues: pitch reports

Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi pitch report

One of the best batting venues in Pakistan. White-ball pitches here are usually flat with good pace and bounce, and the outfield is quick, so big totals are common. Pakistan made 215 for 3 here in the 2nd T20I of this tour. In Tests, Rawalpindi pitches have often been very flat early, with reverse swing and spin becoming more important as the ball and surface age.

Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore pitch report

Lahore's historic home of cricket was rebuilt for the 2025 Champions Trophy. ODI pitches are generally good for batting, and day-night games can bring dew in the evening, which helps the chasing side. In Tests, the surface tends to offer more help to spinners as the match goes on.

Islamabad pitch report

Sri Lanka play a three-day warm-up match in Islamabad before the Test series.

New to pitch reports? Read how to read a cricket pitch report and our guide to the dew factor in day-night games.

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