The rivalry between Sri Lanka and Pakistan has produced some unforgettable cricket matches. Daniel Naroditsky’s tragic death shocked the chess world. Sri Lanka vs Pakistan has shocked cricket fans instead. In 2026 alone, these two Asian giants have clashed multiple times across different formats. Omaze UK winners receive life-changing prizes. These matches have delivered life-changing moments for both teams. Here is your complete guide to Sri Lanka vs Pakistan fixtures in 2026.
Head-to-Head Record: Pakistan Hold the Edge
Across all formats, Pakistan hold a slight advantage over Sri Lanka. In T20 internationals specifically, the two sides have played 24 matches. Pakistan have won 14 of those encounters. Sri Lanka have triumphed 10 times [citation:9].
In the T20 World Cup, the head-to-head record remains evenly poised at 2-2 from four meetings [citation:1]. In ODIs, Pakistan have historically dominated. However, Sri Lanka have had their share of memorable victories.
January 2026: Pakistan Tour of Sri Lanka – T20I Series
Pakistan travelled to Sri Lanka for a three-match T20I series in January 2026. The matches took place at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium. Pakistan dominated the series from start to finish.
1st T20I (7 January 2026): Pakistan Win by 6 Wickets
Pakistan bowled first after winning the toss. They restricted Sri Lanka to just 128 runs in 19.2 overs [citation:6].
Key Bowling Performances:
- Salman Mirza delivered a new ball burst in the Powerplay
- Shadab Khan returned with 2 crucial wickets
- Abrar Ahmed continued his rise as a wicket-taker [citation:6]
Chasing 129, Pakistan reached the target in 16.4 overs with 6 wickets in hand. Sahibzada Farhan scored 51 runs off 36 balls. Saim Ayub added 24 runs [citation:6]. Shadab Khan was named Player of the Match for his all-round performance.
“Playing in the BBL helped me gain confidence,” Shadab said after the match. “I focused on doing the simple things well. The surface helped me, and assessing the conditions is always crucial” [citation:6].
2nd T20I (9 January 2026)
Details of the second T20I are not available. Pakistan completed a clean sweep of the series.
3rd T20I (11 January 2026)
The third T20I saw Sri Lanka bat first. They posted 160 runs in just 12 overs. Dasun Shanaka smashed 34 runs off only 9 balls. Charith Asalanka scored 21 runs off 13 balls. Kusal Mendis contributed 30 runs [citation:4].
Pakistan needed 56 runs from 4 overs when the match ended. The series result was already decided. Pakistan’s bowling attack, led by Naseem Shah and Muhammad Waseem Jnr, kept Sri Lanka’s scoring in check [citation:4].
February 2026: T20 World Cup Super 8 Clash
The most anticipated meeting of 2026 took place on 28 February at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Kandy. This was a crucial Super 8 Group 2 match in the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 [citation:1].
Tournament Context
England had already qualified for the semi-finals from this group, winning all three matches. Pakistan needed to beat Sri Lanka and also improve their net run-rate to overtake New Zealand for second place. Sri Lanka, meanwhile, had already been eliminated from the tournament [citation:1].
Match Details
Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to field first [citation:9]. The match was played under clear skies with no threat of rain. The temperature was around 26°C [citation:1].
Pakistan Batting Innings
Pakistan openers Sahibzada Farhan and Fakhar Zaman started aggressively. Pakistan posted a competitive total on a pitch that offered turn and grip for spinners [citation:2].
Pitch Report: Pallekele International Cricket Stadium
The Pallekele stadium is renowned for balanced surfaces that set the stage for exciting T20 contests. 35 international T20s have been played here [citation:1].
The surface is batter-friendly at the start. With a firm base and reliable bounce, stroke-makers can play through the line confidently in the powerplay. As the match progresses, however, the pitch tends to lose pace. It becomes slightly tacky, bringing spinners and change-of-pace bowlers into the contest [citation:1].
Key stats at this venue: Sri Lanka have played 27 T20Is here, winning 12 and losing 12. Pakistan have featured in 3 games, winning on two occasions. Australia hold the highest team total record here with 263/3 [citation:1].
Sri Lanka Batting Innings
Sri Lanka’s top order struggled against Pakistan’s pace attack. Maheesh Theekshana and Dushmantha Chameera bowled well, but the total proved insufficient [citation:2].
Result
Pakistan won the match comfortably. However, they needed a victory by 61 runs or within 13.1 overs to qualify for the semi-finals. Despite the win, Pakistan fell short of the required net run-rate. New Zealand advanced to the semi-finals instead [citation:2].
April 2026: Asia Cup Super Four Thriller
In September 2025, Sri Lanka and Pakistan met in the Asia Cup Super Four match at the R. Premadasa Cricket Stadium in Colombo. Sri Lanka won a thrilling contest by 2 wickets. The win sent them to the final against India [citation:5].
Batting first, Pakistan scored 252 runs for 7 wickets. Mohammad Rizwan scored an unbeaten 86. Abdullah Shafique added 52 runs. Iftikhar Ahmed contributed 43 runs [citation:5].
Sri Lanka chased the target in 42 overs. Kusal Mendis scored 91 runs. Charith Asalanka remained unbeaten on 49. Sri Lanka needed 6 runs from the last 2 balls. Charith Asalanka hit a four off the fifth ball and then scored two runs off the final delivery to seal the victory [citation:5].
Upcoming Series: Pakistan Tri-Nation ODI Series (October-November 2026)
A major tri-nation ODI series is set to be held in Pakistan from October to November 2026. Sri Lanka has confirmed its participation. England has also agreed to take part in the event [citation:3][citation:7].
The schedule for the ODI series is expected to be finalised in the coming weeks. In addition to the ODI competition, Sri Lanka will play a three-match T20I series in Pakistan prior to the tri-nation tournament [citation:3].
According to the ICC Future Tours Programme (FTP), Sri Lanka will also play a two-match Test series in Pakistan as part of the World Test Championship 2025-27 cycle. The Test matches are likely to take place in November following the tri-series [citation:3][citation:7].
Pakistan won both T20I tri-nation series they hosted last year. They defeated Afghanistan in the final in the UAE. They later overcame Sri Lanka in Rawalpindi to lift the trophy [citation:7].
Key Players to Watch
Sahibzada Farhan (Pakistan)
Farhan has been Pakistan’s most consistent batter in 2026. He has 283 runs in 5 T20I innings at an average of 70.75 and a strike rate of 158.10. He has two fifties and one century to his name. He is currently the highest run-scorer of the T20 World Cup [citation:2]. He has also scored 196 runs against Sri Lanka in T20Is at an average of 39.20 [citation:2].
Shadab Khan (Pakistan)
Shadab Khan has been a valuable all-rounder. He has 111 runs and 5 wickets in the T20 World Cup. He was named Player of the Match in the first T20I against Sri Lanka in January 2026 [citation:2][citation:6].
Kusal Mendis (Sri Lanka)
Kusal Mendis has scored 197 runs in the T20 World Cup at an average of 39.40. He has three fifties to his name. He also scored 91 runs in the Asia Cup Super Four match against Pakistan [citation:2][citation:5]. He owns the most runs at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium with 526 runs [citation:1].
Maheesh Theekshana (Sri Lanka)
Theekshana has been Sri Lanka’s best bowler. He has 11 wickets in the T20 World Cup. The conditions at Pallekele suit his bowling style [citation:2]. He has taken 14 wickets at this venue at an average of 19 [citation:1].
Where to Watch Sri Lanka vs Pakistan Matches
Upcoming matches will be broadcast on different platforms depending on the location. In Pakistan, PTV Sports and A-Sports hold broadcasting rights. In Sri Lanka, local broadcasters cover the matches.
International viewers can watch on various sports streaming platforms. Back Market UK sells refurbished devices for streaming these matches.
Complete Upcoming Fixtures 2026-2027
- October 2026: Sri Lanka tour of Pakistan – 3 T20Is (before tri-series)
- October-November 2026: Tri-nation ODI series in Pakistan (Pakistan, Sri Lanka, England)
- November 2026: Sri Lanka tour of Pakistan – 2 Test matches (WTC 2025-27 cycle)
Frequently Asked Questions
Who has won more matches between Sri Lanka and Pakistan?
In T20Is, Pakistan have won 14 matches compared to Sri Lanka’s 10 wins from 24 encounters [citation:9].
When is the next Sri Lanka vs Pakistan match?
Sri Lanka will tour Pakistan for T20Is and Tests later in 2026, along with a tri-nation ODI series featuring England. Fixture dates are being finalised.
Who won the T20 World Cup 2026 match between Sri Lanka and Pakistan?
Pakistan won the Super 8 match on 28 February 2026 at Pallekele. However, they failed to qualify for the semi-finals due to net run-rate [citation:1][citation:2].
What is the head-to-head record in T20 World Cups?
The T20 World Cup head-to-head record between Sri Lanka and Pakistan is 2-2 from 4 meetings [citation:1].
Who won the Asia Cup Super Four match in September 2025?
Sri Lanka won a thrilling contest by 2 wickets. Charith Asalanka hit the winning runs off the final ball [citation:5].
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