Sri Lanka and Pakistan have produced some of Asian cricket’s most unpredictable contests. Their meetings have included World Cup finals, dramatic Test chases, low-scoring T20Is and extraordinary individual performances.
The sl vs pak cricket rivalry covers Tests, One Day Internationals and T20 Internationals. Pakistan holds the stronger overall record, particularly in ODIs, while Sri Lanka has won several defining tournament matches—including the 2022 Asia Cup final. Their latest completed meeting was at the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
This guide explains the head-to-head numbers, recent results, greatest matches, leading players and tactical factors that regularly decide Sri Lanka vs Pakistan games.
sl vs pak Head-to-Head Record Across Formats
Pakistan leads the rivalry in all three international formats. The precise totals displayed by cricket databases can differ temporarily because abandoned games, tied matches and recently completed fixtures are not always classified or updated at the same time.
The following summary reflects available records through August 24, 2026:
| Format | Matches | Pakistan wins | Sri Lanka wins | Drawn/Tied/No result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tests | 59 | 23 | 17 | 19 drawn |
| ODIs | 159 | 95 | 59 | 1 tied, 4 no results |
| T20Is | 30 completed | 18 | 12 | Abandoned games excluded |
| All completed matches | 248 | 136 | 88 | 24 tied, drawn or without a result |
Pakistan’s advantage is clearest in ODI cricket. Sri Lanka has been more competitive in Tests and T20Is, especially when playing on slow, spin-friendly pitches at home.
The ODI series is also the largest part of this rivalry. The teams first met in a One Day International during the 1975 Prudential World Cup, when Pakistan won by 192 runs at Trent Bridge. Current historical records list 159 ODIs between them, with Pakistan winning 95 and Sri Lanka winning 59. Cricket series records
Quick takeaway: Pakistan owns the better overall record, but the raw numbers do not capture Sri Lanka’s success in major finals and decisive tournament matches.
Latest sl vs pak Match Result
The latest completed meeting took place in the Super Eight stage of the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on February 28, 2026.
Pakistan scored 212/8 in 20 overs, driven by Sahibzada Farhan’s 100 from 60 deliveries. Sri Lanka replied with 207/6, falling only five runs short despite a remarkable late assault from Dasun Shanaka, who made 76 from 31 balls.
| Match detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Tournament | ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 |
| Stage | Super Eight, Group 2 |
| Venue | Pallekele International Cricket Stadium |
| Pakistan score | 212/8 |
| Sri Lanka score | 207/6 |
| Result | Pakistan won by 5 runs |
| Player of the Match | Sahibzada Farhan, 100 from 60 balls |
| Sri Lanka’s leading scorer | Dasun Shanaka, 76 from 31 balls |
Sri Lanka needed 28 runs from the final over. Shanaka’s hitting reduced the margin dramatically, but two scoreless deliveries at the end allowed Pakistan to hold on. Full match commentary
That match captured the usual character of this rivalry: rapid momentum shifts, pressure on the fielding side and a result that remained uncertain until the final delivery.
Recent Sri Lanka vs Pakistan Results
The teams met frequently between late 2025 and early 2026. Pakistan controlled the ODI series in Rawalpindi and recorded several T20 victories, while Sri Lanka interrupted that run with wins in the tri-series and the shortened third T20I in January.
2025 ODI Series in Pakistan
Pakistan completed a 3–0 ODI series victory at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium:
| Date | Match | Result |
|---|---|---|
| November 11, 2025 | 1st ODI | Pakistan won by 6 runs |
| November 14, 2025 | 2nd ODI | Pakistan won by 8 wickets |
| November 16, 2025 | 3rd ODI | Pakistan won by 6 wickets |
The opening ODI was the closest. Pakistan posted 299/5 before limiting Sri Lanka to 293/9.
In the second match, Babar Azam scored his 20th ODI century as Pakistan chased 289 with ten balls remaining. Fakhar Zaman contributed 78, Mohammad Rizwan finished unbeaten on 51, and Haris Rauf and Abrar Ahmed took three wickets each. Reuters match report
Pakistan then completed the sweep by chasing Sri Lanka’s 211 in 44.4 overs during the third ODI.
Pakistan T20I Tri-Series Results
Sri Lanka and Pakistan met three times during the November 2025 tri-series:
- Pakistan won the first meeting by seven wickets.
- Sri Lanka won their next encounter by six runs.
- Pakistan won the final by six wickets.
Sahibzada Farhan played a major role in Pakistan’s first victory, scoring an unbeaten 80 from 45 balls during a comfortable chase.
Pakistan Tour of Sri Lanka in January 2026
The January 2026 tour consisted of three scheduled T20Is:
| Match | Sri Lanka | Pakistan | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st T20I | 128 all out | 129/4 | Pakistan won by 6 wickets |
| 2nd T20I | No play | No play | Abandoned |
| 3rd T20I, 12 overs per side | 160/6 | 146/8 | Sri Lanka won by 14 runs |
The teams therefore shared the completed matches 1–1. The abandoned second game meant the tour did not produce a conventional series winner. Tour results
sl vs pak Test Record and Red-Ball History
Sri Lanka and Pakistan first played a Test series in 1982. Pakistan leads the Test head-to-head record with 23 victories to Sri Lanka’s 17, while 19 matches have ended in draws.
The contest has often been far closer than the ODI record suggests. Conditions strongly influence Test matches between the two sides:
- In Sri Lanka: dry surfaces usually become increasingly favorable to spin.
- In Pakistan: reverse swing, conventional seam movement and batting-friendly periods can all shape the game.
- In the UAE: slow pitches have rewarded patient batting and accurate spin bowling.
- At Galle: first-innings runs and fourth-innings technique against spin are especially valuable.
Memorable Test Series
The 2015 series in Sri Lanka demonstrated Pakistan’s ability to chase under pressure. Pakistan won the first Test at Galle by ten wickets, lost the second at the P. Sara Oval and then successfully chased 377 at Pallekele to take the series 2–1.
Sri Lanka answered emphatically in the UAE in 2017. It won both Tests, including the teams’ first day-night Test in Dubai, to secure a 2–0 series victory.
The 2022 series at Galle finished 1–1. Pakistan chased 342 in the first Test, but Sri Lanka responded with a 246-run victory in the second.
Pakistan dominated the most recent Test series in 2023:
- Pakistan won the first Test at Galle by four wickets.
- Pakistan won the second at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo by an innings and 222 runs.
- Saud Shakeel scored a double century in the opening Test.
- Abdullah Shafique made a double century in the second.
That 2–0 result underlined Pakistan’s improved method against Sri Lankan spin: positive footwork, calculated sweeps and enough patience to wait for scoring opportunities.
ODI Rivalry: Why Pakistan Has the Advantage
ODI cricket is where Pakistan has created its largest statistical lead. Its 95 wins represent nearly 60 percent of the 159 meetings, while Sri Lanka has recorded 59 victories.
Several factors explain that advantage.
Strong Fast-Bowling Traditions
Pakistan has repeatedly fielded pace attacks capable of taking wickets with both the new and old ball. Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Shoaib Akhtar, Saqlain Mushtaq, Shahid Afridi and later Shaheen Shah Afridi have given Pakistan different ways to disrupt Sri Lanka’s innings.
Reverse swing has been particularly influential in older contests. More recently, hard lengths, slower balls and variations at the death have become just as important.
Reliable Top-Order Batting
Pakistan’s leading ODI teams usually combined attacking openers with technically secure middle-order batters. Javed Miandad, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Yousuf and Babar Azam have all provided stability against Sri Lanka’s varied bowling attacks.
Success in Bilateral Series
Pakistan has often controlled multi-match ODI series even when individual games were competitive. The 3–0 victory in Rawalpindi in November 2025 continued that pattern.
Sri Lanka’s best route to reversing the trend has usually involved early wickets, middle-over pressure from spin and enough batting depth to attack Pakistan’s death bowling.
T20I Rivalry and Tournament Pressure
Pakistan also leads the completed T20I head-to-head record, but Sri Lanka has produced some of the rivalry’s most important short-format victories.
The teams played their first T20I at the inaugural ICC World Twenty20 in Johannesburg in 2007. Pakistan won by 33 runs. Since then, their T20 meetings have frequently been decided by powerplay wickets, spin in the middle overs and lower-order hitting.
The 2009 T20 World Cup Final
The most historically significant T20I between the teams was the 2009 ICC World Twenty20 final at Lord’s.
Sri Lanka scored 138/6, with Kumar Sangakkara making an unbeaten 64. Pakistan completed the chase in 18.4 overs, led by Shahid Afridi’s unbeaten 54, and won by eight wickets.
It remains one of Pakistan cricket’s defining tournament victories.
The 2022 Asia Cup Final
Sri Lanka reversed the championship narrative in the 2022 Asia Cup final at Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
After slipping to 58/5, Sri Lanka recovered to 170/6. Bhanuka Rajapaksa made an unbeaten 71 from 45 balls, while Wanindu Hasaranga contributed 36 from 21.
Pakistan was dismissed for 147, giving Sri Lanka a 23-run victory. Pramod Madushan took four wickets and Hasaranga claimed three.
The final showed why Sri Lanka cannot be judged solely through the overall head-to-head table. Its ability to rebuild an innings and use spin under pressure has made it particularly dangerous in knockout cricket.
Greatest Sri Lanka vs Pakistan Matches
Several contests stand above the rest because of their quality, context or dramatic finish.
1986 Austral-Asia Cup Final
Pakistan defeated Sri Lanka by eight wickets in Sharjah. It was an early example of Pakistan’s strength in multinational ODI tournaments and helped establish the competitive relationship between the two teams.
1999 Asian Test Championship Final
Pakistan won the championship final in Dhaka by an innings and 175 runs. Ijaz Ahmed scored 211, while Wasim Akram’s all-round influence helped Pakistan secure the title.
2000 Singapore Challenge Final
Sri Lanka defeated Pakistan by 77 runs after Sanath Jayasuriya produced one of the greatest ODI innings ever played. He scored 189 from 161 balls, powering Sri Lanka to 354/6.
Pakistan was bowled out for 277 despite a century from Imran Nazir. Jayasuriya’s 189 remained Sri Lanka’s highest individual ODI score for many years.
2009 World T20 Final
Shahid Afridi’s controlled half-century helped Pakistan chase 139 at Lord’s and become T20 world champions.
2014 Asia Cup Final
Sri Lanka defeated Pakistan by five wickets in Dhaka. Lasith Malinga took all five Pakistan wickets, while Lahiru Thirimanne scored a century during Sri Lanka’s successful chase of 261.
2015 Pallekele Test
Pakistan chased 377 to win the third Test and the series. Younis Khan scored an unbeaten 171, Shan Masood made 125, and their 242-run partnership transformed a difficult chase.
2022 Asia Cup Final
Sri Lanka recovered from 58/5 to win by 23 runs, with Rajapaksa, Hasaranga and Madushan leading the comeback.
2026 T20 World Cup Super Eight Match
Sahibzada Farhan’s century gave Pakistan a five-run win despite Shanaka’s 31-ball 76. The aggregate of 419 runs made it one of the rivalry’s most explosive T20Is.
Players Who Defined the Rivalry
The character of sl vs pak cricket has been shaped by elite batters, fast bowlers and world-class spinners from both countries.
Pakistan’s Influential Players
Wasim Akram challenged Sri Lanka with pace, swing and reverse swing. His ability to take wickets at any stage made him central to Pakistan’s success in the 1980s and 1990s.
Waqar Younis brought late swing and destructive yorkers, particularly against the lower order.
Inzamam-ul-Haq was one of Pakistan’s most dependable middle-order batters against spin and pace.
Younis Khan produced the unbeaten 171 in Pakistan’s famous 377-run Test chase at Pallekele in 2015.
Shahid Afridi delivered the decisive innings in the 2009 T20 World Cup final and contributed as a leg-spinner throughout the rivalry.
Babar Azam has provided control in modern ODI contests, including a century during Pakistan’s 2025 series victory.
Shaheen Shah Afridi represents Pakistan’s current left-arm pace threat, particularly with the new ball.
Sri Lanka’s Influential Players
Sanath Jayasuriya changed ODI opening strategy with his aggressive powerplay batting. His 189 in Singapore remains one of the rivalry’s greatest innings.
Kumar Sangakkara combined technical quality with consistency across all three formats.
Mahela Jayawardene was especially effective when manipulating spin and building long partnerships.
Muttiah Muralitharan tested Pakistan’s batters with off-spin, doosras and relentless accuracy.
Lasith Malinga used yorkers and slower deliveries to dominate limited-overs matches, most memorably taking five wickets in the 2014 Asia Cup final.
Rangana Herath played a major role in Sri Lanka’s Test successes on turning pitches.
Wanindu Hasaranga has become a central short-format weapon through leg-spin, lower-order batting and fielding.
Pathum Nissanka, Charith Asalanka, Kamindu Mendis and Dasun Shanaka form an important part of Sri Lanka’s modern batting group.
How Conditions Influence an sl vs pak Match
The venue can change the balance between these teams more than their overall records suggest.
| Venue or condition | Typical influence |
|---|---|
| Galle | Increasing turn, difficult fourth-innings batting |
| Colombo | Heat, spin and variable pace across long matches |
| Pallekele | Better bounce and greater value for stroke play |
| Rawalpindi | Pace, carry and opportunities for attacking batting |
| Karachi | Long batting periods followed by reverse swing |
| UAE venues | Slow surfaces, spin and pressure during chases |
| Neutral ICC venues | Team balance and handling pressure become decisive |
At Galle, batting first can be a substantial advantage if the pitch is expected to deteriorate. In Rawalpindi, seamers may find early movement, but batters who survive the new ball can score quickly.
Pallekele often produces a more balanced T20 surface. The 2026 World Cup meeting, which generated 419 runs, showed that it can also reward clean hitting when the pitch remains true.
Tactical Battles That Usually Decide the Match
Pakistan’s New-Ball Pace Against Sri Lanka’s Top Order
Pakistan often tries to remove Pathum Nissanka and Sri Lanka’s other top-order batters before the fielding restrictions end. Early swing from a left-arm bowler such as Shaheen Afridi can force right-handed batters to play around their front pad.
Sri Lanka’s best response is controlled aggression. Simply defending allows Pakistan’s fast bowlers to settle into a rhythm, while reckless drives expose the outside edge.
Sri Lankan Spin Against Pakistan’s Middle Order
Sri Lanka frequently uses leg-spin, off-spin or left-arm orthodox bowling to slow the scoring rate after the powerplay.
Pakistan’s batters must rotate strike rather than depend exclusively on boundary hitting. Sweeps, reverse sweeps and quick singles can prevent bowlers such as Hasaranga or Dunith Wellalage from attacking one batter for an entire over.
Death-Overs Execution
Both teams have lost seemingly favorable matches through missed yorkers, dropped catches or poor shot selection in the final overs.
The 2026 World Cup encounter offered a clear example. Shanaka’s late hitting brought Sri Lanka close, but Pakistan defended the final two deliveries and protected a five-run margin.
Fielding Under Pressure
Fielding is sometimes overlooked in head-to-head analysis. Against evenly matched teams, one dropped catch or misfield can erase ten overs of good cricket.
Sri Lanka traditionally brings athleticism inside the circle, while Pakistan’s strongest performances usually come when its catching supports the quality of its bowling.
How to Follow a Sri Lanka vs Pakistan Match Accurately
Searchers using “sl vs pak” are often looking for a live score, scorecard, playing XI or immediate result. The most reliable way to follow a match is to separate confirmed information from pre-match reports.
- Check the official ICC match center for global tournaments.
- Use established score providers for ball-by-ball commentary.
- Confirm the toss before assessing team selection or conditions.
- Check whether the match has been shortened by rain.
- Distinguish a revised DLS target from the original target.
- Verify the final result before relying on social-media graphics.
A live scorecard normally displays the innings total, wickets, overs, current batters, bowler figures, required run rate and fall of wickets. During rain-affected limited-overs matches, the Duckworth–Lewis–Stern method may revise the target according to the overs and resources available.
Official schedules can change because of weather, security arrangements, broadcasting requirements or tournament qualification. A fixture page should therefore be checked close to match day rather than treated as permanently fixed.
What the Head-to-Head Numbers Really Show
Pakistan has been the more successful team across the full history of the rivalry. Its superiority is substantial in ODIs and smaller, but still clear, in Tests and T20Is.
Sri Lanka’s record reveals a different strength: winning major matches when tournament pressure is highest. The 2022 Asia Cup final, 2014 Asia Cup final and several influential Test victories prove that it can overturn both form and historical statistics.
Three conclusions stand out:
- Pakistan has the stronger overall head-to-head record.
- Sri Lanka remains especially dangerous on spin-friendly surfaces.
- Tournament context and current form matter more than historical totals in predicting one match.
Final Takeaway
The sl vs pak rivalry combines Pakistan’s fast-bowling heritage and superior overall record with Sri Lanka’s spin resources, adaptability and history of winning major finals. Pakistan currently leads across Tests, ODIs and completed T20Is, including a five-run victory in the teams’ latest meeting at the 2026 T20 World Cup.
For the next match, check the confirmed format, venue, playing XIs and pitch conditions before using the head-to-head record to judge either team’s chances.