There were a lot of questions raised on the return of Shadab Khan to Pakistan's T20I squad. But he has certainly shut down all his critics with a power-packed performance in the first T20I in Dambulla. His all-round display helped Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by 6 wickets and take a 1-0 lead in the series. He took two crucial wickets with the ball, scored an unbeaten 18 runs off 12 balls, and hit the winning runs.
Salman Mirza and Mohammad Wasim Jr. provided Pakistan an early breakthrough with the ball. Abrar Ahmed then wrapped up the tale with 3/25. Sri Lankan batters failed to convert starts to significant innings and paid the price of playing too many rash shots. They had only themselves to blame for the defeat. Captain Dasun Shanaka and co. will be hopeful for the improved performance in the second game. These two will meet again on Friday at 7 PM IST at Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium, Dambulla.
SL vs PAK: Match Info.
·Series: Pakistan tour of Sri Lanka 2025
·Match: Sri Lanka vs Pakistan, 2nd T20I
·Venue: Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium, Dambulla
·Time: 7:00 PM IST
·Date: January 9, 2026 (Friday)
Sri Lanka vs Pakistan: Head-to-Head: SL (11) – PAK (17)
With a win in the first T20I, Pakistan have stretched their lead to 17 wins over Sri Lanka in this format. These two teams have played 28 T20Is until now, with Sri Lanka winning 11 of them.
SL vs PAK: Pitch Report
The wicket at Rangiri Dambulla Stadium plays slow. This venue is good for spinners. Fast bowlers will get movement with the new ball. The overcast conditions will bring more assistance for the bowlers. The outfield will be slow, and it will be difficult to get going from the start. Batters who can spend some time on the field can score runs. The team that bats second will get more help from the wicket.
SL vs PAK: Live Streaming Details
·TV: Not Televised in India
·Digital: FanCode (App or website)
SL vs PAK: Weather Report
The weather forecast suggests passing showers on Friday evening in Dambulla with a moderate wind speed around 10 kmph. The expected temperature will be around 22°C with the humidity ranging around 95 percent.
Pakistan: Saim Ayub, Fakhar Zaman, Sahibzada Farhan, Salman Agha (c), Shadab Khan, Usman Khan (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Salman Mirza, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Abrar Ahmed
SL vs PAK: Probable Best Batter
Pakistan: Sahibzada Farhan scored the most runs for Pakistan in T20Is last year. He started this year with another fifty and played an important role in Pakistan's win.
Sri Lanka: Pathum Nissanka is Sri Lanka's premier batter. He scored loads of runs for Sri Lanka across formats and will be the one to watch out for.
SL vs PAK: Probable Best Bowler
Pakistan: Salman Mirza has improved a lot in the past few months. His opening spells and ability to swing the ball early trouble the batters in the powerplay.
Sri Lanka: Wanindu Hasaranga has taken the most wickets against Pakistan in T20 internationals. He was the only Sri Lankan bowler to do well in the first game.
Sri Lanka vs Pakistan Today’s Match Prediction:Sri Lanka are playing at home, but they have not used the conditions well. The toss is very important here. Because of overcast weather conditions, it will be an edge to win the toss and bowl first. The conditions to bowl in the first innings will be better because the pitch will become easier with the time to bat on.
In the second innings, there might be dew as well, which will help the batters. Pakistan have been the better side in both departments. That is why Pakistan have a great chance to win the second T20I in Dambulla.
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