Pakistan Vs Sri Lanka 1st T20I Highlights 2026: Farhan, Sadaqat Help Green Shirts Clinch Clinical Victory

Welcome to our live cricket blog! We are thrilled to have you with us as we bring you all the ball-by-ball action, instant highlights, and expert analysis from the opening match of the series between Pakistan and Sri Lanka at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. Sit back, grab your refreshments, and join us as the action unfolds under the floodlights!

The opener brings a few notable team changes. Pakistan have named Sahibzada Farhan as full-time captain in place of Salman Ali Agha, who has been dropped from the squad. Naseem Shah and Fakhar Zaman have also returned to the side.

Sri Lanka, meanwhile, have brought back Kusal Mendis as captain. The visitors head into the series after winning bronze at the Asian Games with a second-string squad.

The tour starts with a three-match T20I series. It will then move to an ODI tri-series that also features England.

All three T20Is will be played at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi. Pakistan have reshaped the side ahead of the opener.

Vijayakanth Viyaskanth comes in as a replacement for the injured Wanindu Hasaranga, while fast bowler Binura Fernando returns to the squad and Dilshan Madushanka makes way.

Get ready for an action-packed evening of international cricket as Pakistan and Sri Lanka square off in the 1st T20I! Fans across Pakistan can catch all the live coverage on PTV Sports and A Sports, with seamless live streaming available on Tapmad. If you are tuning in from India, you can stream the match live via platforms like FanCode or Veto, while viewers in Sri Lanka can follow the action through local broadcast and digital partners. Settle in and enjoy every single boundary, wicket, and dramatic moment live as the series gets underway!

Set to clash later today at the JSCA International Stadium Complex in Ranchi, India and West Indies square off in the 2nd T20I of their five-match series. India holds a 1-0 lead following a commanding 8-wicket victory in the opener at Lucknow, powered by skipper Shreyas Iyer's blistering, unbeaten 102 off just 43 balls. While the visitors will be eager to bounce back and level the series with their explosive power-hitters, India enters tonight's encounter as the firm favorites to double their advantage under the lights.

Sri Lanka's cricket teams delivered an impressive double-podium campaign at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games in Japan. The women's team put up a stellar run to secure a historic silver medal, fighting their way through the tournament before a tough encounter against India in the gold-medal match. Meanwhile, the men's team rebounded strongly from a semi-final loss to claim the bronze medal, defeating Bangladesh by 63 runs in the third-place playoff behind a match-winning, explosive 65 off 32 balls by Tharindu Ratnayake and a disciplined bowling performance. Together, both squads underscored Sri Lanka's regional strength in the T20 format on the continental stage.

Sri Lanka have won the toss and have opted to bat.

Sri Lanka: Lahiru Udara(w), Kusal Mendis(c), Kamil Mishara, Kamindu Mendis, Sahan Arachchige, Dasun Shanaka, Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Dushmantha Chameera, Nuwan Thushara, Eshan Malinga

Pakistan: Sahibzada Farhan(c), Fakhar Zaman, Maaz Sadaqat, Hasan Nawaz, Saim Ayub, Shadab Khan, Khawaja Nafay(w), Mohammad Imran Randhawa, Razaullah, Naseem Shah, Abrar Ahmed

Naseem Shah delivered an early breakthrough for Pakistan by removing the dangerous Kusal Mendis for just 1 off 2 balls, inducing a thick edge with a full, wide delivery that flew straight to debutant Mohammad Imran Randhawa at third man, sparking jubilant celebrations from the fast bowler.

Debutants and pressure combined to cut short Kamil Mishara’s struggle at the crease as he skied an attempted shot after taking 13 deliveries for his 6 runs, offering a straightforward catch to Fakhar Zaman off the bowling of Mohammad Imran Randhawa in the fourth over.

Kamindu Mendis and Lahiru Udara steady Sri Lanka’s innings through the powerplay's final overs, taking 10 runs off Mohammad Imran Randhawa's eventful over to push the total to 34-2 after 5 overs.

After Randhawa troubled the left-handers with an effective over-the-wicket angle and some away swing, Kamindu Mendis countered brilliantly—getting fortunate with an edge over short third man before playing a gorgeous, classical back-foot punch through the covers for four. Udara also chipped in actively at the other end, leaving Sri Lanka looking to rebuild after losing their openers early.

Saim Ayub broke through for Pakistan with a clever piece of bowling, slowing up a length delivery from round the wicket that deceived Kamindu Mendis as he attempted a cross-batted step-hit, resulting in a thick edge safely pouched by Fakhar Zaman at long-off after a slight tumble to dismiss Mendis for 23.

Mohammad Imran Randhawa picked up his second wicket of the innings by dismissing Sahan Arachchige cheaply for just 1, forcing a miscued stroke that was neatly caught by Shadab Khan at backward point.

Sri Lanka’s innings has gathered impressive momentum as they reach 116-4 after 14 overs, thanks to a brilliant counter-attacking onslaught from Lahiru Udara and Dasun Shanaka.

After bringing up a blistering 32-ball half-century, Udara has continued to unleash full throttle, pulling and scything Razaullah with authority, including a stunning whip over fine leg for six and a fiery ramp shot. At the other end, Shanaka has chipped in aggressively, highlighted by a fierce flat-pulled maximum off Shadab Khan that narrowly eluded the fielder at deep mid-wicket. Pakistan’s bowlers are suddenly feeling the heat as the fifth-wicket partnership keeps the scoreboard ticking at a rapid pace.

Dasun Shanaka’s enterprising cameo came to an end for 18 off 15 balls as he fell to Shadab Khan, trying to flat-bat another short delivery only to hole out to Fakhar Zaman, who safely snaffled the catch running across at the long-off boundary to give a visibly relieved Shadab his breakthrough.

Naseem Shah dealt Sri Lanka a devastating double blow in the death overs, cleaning up Dunith Wellalage with a searing inswinger that uprooted the leg stump before getting rid of the heroic Lahiru Udara for a magnificent 91 off 55 balls (hitting 11 fours and a six), who holed out to long-on trying to force elevation against a full delivery.

Pakistan's chase has exploded out of the blocks, racing to 22-0 after 2 overs against Sri Lanka.

After Dushmantha Chameera was greeted with a flurry of boundaries—including a wild outside-edge for four from Fakhar Zaman and a brilliant square-drive through backward point—Nuwan Thushara felt the full force of Sahibzada Farhan in the next over.

After surviving an absolute beauty first-up and getting lucky with an edge over short third, Farhan punished Thushara's slower-ball off-cutters. He ruthlessly belted a full delivery wide of mid-on for four, survived a dropped chance by Shanaka, and then deposited a full ball clean over long-off for a towering maximum to cap off a massive 16-run over.

Pakistan’s brisk powerplay momentum has hit a slight speed bump, but they remain firmly on course at 70-1 after 6 overs.

After Fakhar Zaman fell for a lively 21, caught behind off a zippy, extra-bounce delivery from Eshan Malinga, young left-hander Maaz Sadaqat stepped to the crease and announced himself in style. Showing off the effortless swagger that saw him smash two centuries in the recent CPL, Sadaqat immediately dismantled Malinga with back-to-back maximums—highlighted by an audacious no-look flick over the deep mid-wicket fence—before slicing a fast short ball away for four.

At the other end, Sahibzada Farhan has continued his fluent knock, moving to 32 off 18 balls as Sri Lanka turned to Maheesh Theekshana, who has notably rolled out a disguised, Sunil Narine-style hidden-ball run-up to try and stifle Pakistan's charge.

Sahibzada Farhan reached a brilliant milestone on his captaincy debut, tucking a length delivery off Dunith Wellalage to deep mid-wicket for a single to bring up a well-earned fifty.

Sri Lanka suddenly roared back into the contest with three quick wickets, removing a well-set Maaz Sadaqat plumb lbw for a brilliant 50 off 29 balls before Dushmantha Chameera struck down leg to dismiss Hasan Nawaz—marking his landmark 100th T20I wicket—and Maheesh Theekshana cleaned up Saim Ayub with a sharp off-break that sneaked through the gap to leave Pakistan wobbling and sensing an opening.

Pakistan sealed a comfortable victory despite losing six wickets, as commanding partnerships—including a 92-run stand between captain Sahibzada Farhan and Maaz Sadaqat following a 54-run opening burst—put the result beyond doubt on a dew-slicked chasing ground where Sri Lanka's bowlers ultimately fell at least 25 runs short.