It is less than one month to the start of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026. It will be a 20-team tournament held in India and Sri Lanka. Hence, the final round of preparation for every team has begun. Pakistan have also reached Sri Lanka for three T20Is. These two teams will meet for the first game on January 7 (Wednesday) at Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium, Dambulla, with a scheduled start of 7 PM IST.
The Men in Green are scheduled to play their games during the T20 World Cup 2026 in Sri Lanka, and this series will be key for their preparation. They have added a few new faces to their squad, as Babar Azam and Haris Rauf are currently playing in the BBL, while Shaheen Afridi is injured. Shadab Khan is back for Pakistan and will have a key role in this squad. There are plenty of spin options to choose from for the tourist. Meanwhile, Dasun Shanaka will lead the hosts, and they will be ready to gain momentum ahead of the ICC event with a series win.
SL vs PAK: Match Info.
- · Series: Pakistan tour of Sri Lanka 2025
- · Match: Sri Lanka vs Pakistan, 1st T20I
- · Venue: Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium, Dambulla
- · Time: 7:00 PM IST
- · Date: January 7, 2026 (Wednesday)
Sri Lanka vs Pakistan: Head-to-Head: SL (11) – PAK (16)
The upcoming contest will be the 28th meeting between these two sides in the T20 internationals. Pakistan have a good record, as they have won 16 matches, and Sri Lanka have come out victorious 11 times in this rivalry.
SL vs PAK: Pitch Report
The wicket in Dambulla is slow, which is expected to grip more for the bowlers with time. The bowlers will get more out of the wicket with time, making it difficult to bat. There can be uneven bounce, and batting first can be an ideal option if it does not rain.
SL vs PAK: Live Streaming Details
- · TV: Not Televised in India
- · Digital: FanCode (App or website)
SL vs PAK: Weather Report
The weather forecast for Wednesday evening in Dambulla shows a 40 percent chance of rain and the temperature going up to 25°C. The expected humidity will range around 85 percent with a moderate wind speed of 18 kmph.
SL vs PAK: Last Five Results
Pakistan: W, W, W, L, W
Sri Lanka: L, L, W, W, L
Sri Lanka vs Pakistan: Possible XIs:
Sri Lanka: P. Nissanka, K. Mendis (wk), K. Perera, C. Asalanka, D. Shanaka (c), W. Hasaranga, K. Mendis, M. Theekshana, N. Thushara, M. Pathirana, D. Chameera.
Pakistan: S. Farhan, S. Ayub, F. Zaman, S. Khan, S. Agha (c), U. Khan (wk), M. Nawaz, F. Ashraf, N. Shah, M. Wasim Jr., A. Ahmed
SL vs PAK: Probable Best Batter
Pakistan: Sahibzada Farhan has been the top scorer for Pakistan in the shorter format in 2025. At the top, he has played some useful knocks and given good starts.
Sri Lanka: Pathum Nissanka is the in-form batter for Sri Lanka. He can be very difficult to bowl to because of his wide range of shots.
SL vs PAK: Probable Best Bowler
Pakistan: Mohammad Nawaz has been the best bowler for Pakistan in T20Is in 2025. He has taken wickets in the middle overs and will get more out of this wicket.
Sri Lanka: Nuwan Thushara has become Sri Lanka’s premier bowler in this format. He has taken wickets with the new ball and is very good at death.
Sri Lanka vs Pakistan Today’s Match Prediction: Sri Lanka know these conditions, and they can use that to their good effect. Their spin unit is perfectly suited for these pitches. But their batting is something, which is dependent on the top order. If they lose early wickets, it will put them under pressure. Meanwhile, Pakistan have more options with the bat and ball.
They have a strong middle order and players in good form. The return of Shadab Khan will strengthen their middle order in these conditions. Pakistan's spin unit has improved in the past year or so, which will make them a strong unit in these conditions. Hence, we believe Pakistan have more chances of winning this game on Wednesday.
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