Sri Lanka vs Pakistan Head-to-Head in T20Is

Sri Lanka vs Pakistan is one of Asia’s most familiar cricket rivalries. The two teams have competed against each other in Test cricket, ODIs and T20 Internationals, producing several memorable matches and tournament encounters. Sri Lanka vs Pakistan Head-to-Head in T20Is

Their men’s T20I rivalry began at the inaugural ICC World Twenty20 in 2007. Pakistan won that first meeting by 33 runs in Johannesburg. Since then, the two sides have played regularly in bilateral series and ICC competitions.

As of September 2026, Sri Lanka and Pakistan have played 30 official men’s T20Is. Pakistan have won 18, while Sri Lanka have won 12. There have been no tied matches or official no-results in the 30 completed T20Is.

The latest meeting was the 2026 T20 World Cup Super Eight match in Kandy on 28 February 2026. Pakistan won a thrilling contest by five runs after scoring 212/8 and restricting Sri Lanka to 207/6.

Sri Lanka vs Pakistan T20I Head-to-Head Record

Category	Sri Lanka	Pakistan
T20I Matches	30	30
Wins	12	18
Losses	18	12
No Results	0	0
Ties	0	0
Highest Total	211	212

Pakistan currently lead the overall T20I head-to-head record by 18 wins to 12. Sri Lanka vs Pakistan Head-to-Head in T20Is

First T20I Between Sri Lanka and Pakistan

The first official T20I between Sri Lanka and Pakistan was played on 17 September 2007 at Johannesburg during the inaugural ICC World Twenty20.

Pakistan batted first and scored 164/9. Sri Lanka were unable to keep pace with the required run rate and finished on 131/9.

Pakistan therefore won by 33 runs, beginning the T20I rivalry with a victory.

The match was played during the early years of international T20 cricket, when teams were still developing their strategies for the new format.

Pakistan’s Overall Advantage

Pakistan have won 18 of the 30 official T20Is against Sri Lanka, giving them a six-match advantage in the overall record.

Pakistan’s success has come from a combination of strong batting, quality spin bowling and experienced fast bowlers. The team has also historically performed well in T20 tournaments.

Sri Lanka, meanwhile, have produced their own periods of dominance. Their bowling attack, particularly their spin department, has frequently caused problems for Pakistan’s batting line-up.

The six-match difference means Pakistan have the stronger historical record, but Sri Lanka remain a significant opponent in T20 cricket.

2009 T20 World Cup Final

One of the biggest matches in the rivalry was the 2009 ICC World Twenty20 final at Lord’s in London.

Sri Lanka batted first and scored 138/6. Pakistan produced a controlled chase and reached 139/2 in 18.4 overs.

Shahid Afridi played an important innings and Pakistan won the final by eight wickets.

The victory gave Pakistan their first men’s T20 World Cup title. It remains one of the most important matches in the history of Pakistan-Sri Lanka T20 cricket.

Sri Lanka’s 2019 T20I Series Victory

Sri Lanka enjoyed a memorable period against Pakistan in 2019.

During their T20I tour of Pakistan, Sri Lanka won all three matches. The victories came by 64 runs, 35 runs and 13 runs, giving Sri Lanka a 3-0 series sweep.

The series was particularly notable because several senior Sri Lankan players were unavailable, but the visiting side’s younger players produced strong performances.

Sri Lanka’s success demonstrated that the head-to-head record could change quickly when their bowling and batting units performed together.

2022 T20 Asia Cup Final

Sri Lanka and Pakistan met again in a major tournament final during the 2022 Asia Cup.

Sri Lanka batted first and scored 170/6. Pakistan were bowled out for 147, giving Sri Lanka a 23-run victory.

The result gave Sri Lanka the Asia Cup title and added another major tournament success to their T20 rivalry.

The match was especially significant because Sri Lanka recovered from a difficult start to the tournament and finished as champions.

2025 T20I Meetings

The two teams met several times during 2025.

In November 2025, Pakistan hosted Sri Lanka in a T20I tri-series also involving Zimbabwe. Pakistan won the first meeting between the teams by seven wickets on 22 November.

Sri Lanka responded in the next match, winning by six runs after scoring 184/5.

Pakistan then won the final against Sri Lanka on 29 November by six wickets, chasing 115.

These matches showed how closely balanced the teams could be despite Pakistan’s overall historical advantage.

2026 T20I Series in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka hosted Pakistan for a three-match T20I series in January 2026.

The first match was played at Dambulla on 7 January. Sri Lanka were bowled out for 128, and Pakistan reached 129/4 to win by six wickets.

The third match took place on 11 January. Sri Lanka scored 160/6, while Pakistan managed 146/8. Sri Lanka won by 14 runs.

The series therefore finished 1-1, with the second scheduled match abandoned before it could become an official completed T20I.

Wanindu Hasaranga was Sri Lanka’s leading wicket-taker in the series with five wickets, while Mohammad Wasim Jr. took five wickets for Pakistan.

2026 T20 World Cup Super Eight

The latest official T20I meeting between Sri Lanka and Pakistan came on 28 February 2026 in the T20 World Cup Super Eight stage at Pallekele.

Pakistan batted first and posted a huge 212/8.

Sri Lanka produced an excellent response and reached 207/6, but Pakistan held their nerve during the final overs to win by five runs.

The match was another example of the narrow margins that have often characterized important encounters between the two sides.

Pakistan’s 212 was their highest T20I total against Sri Lanka, while Sri Lanka’s 211 was also their highest score against Pakistan.

Highest Team Totals

Both teams have produced huge scores in this rivalry.

Pakistan’s highest T20I total against Sri Lanka is 212/8, scored in the 2026 T20 World Cup Super Eight match.

Sri Lanka’s highest T20I total against Pakistan is 211, also recorded in the 2026 tournament.

These scores demonstrate how the rivalry has evolved from the more conservative early years of T20 cricket into the high-scoring modern era.

Key Pakistani Players

Pakistan have featured several outstanding T20 players in this rivalry.

Shahid Afridi played an important role in the 2009 T20 World Cup final, while players such as Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Shoaib Malik, Mohammad Hafeez and Shaheen Shah Afridi have contributed significantly in different periods.

Pakistan’s strength has traditionally included a mixture of technically sound batting, powerful middle-order hitting and high-quality bowling.

In the 2026 T20 World Cup meeting, Pakistan’s batting unit reached 212/8 before their bowlers restricted Sri Lanka to 207/6.

Key Sri Lankan Players

Sri Lanka have also produced many important performers against Pakistan.

Players such as Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Lasith Malinga, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Angelo Mathews and Wanindu Hasaranga have contributed to Sri Lanka’s T20 history.

Among the modern players, Wanindu Hasaranga has been particularly influential because of his leg-spin bowling and lower-order batting ability.

His performances have helped Sri Lanka compete strongly against Pakistan in recent years. He was also named Player of the Series in the January 2026 T20I series.

Sri Lanka vs Pakistan T20I Rivalry at a Glance

Total official T20Is: 30
Pakistan wins: 18
Sri Lanka wins: 12
No results: 0
Ties: 0
First T20I: 17 September 2007
Latest T20I: 28 February 2026
Latest result: Pakistan won by 5 runs
Pakistan’s highest total: 212/8
Sri Lanka’s highest total: 211
Famous World Cup meeting: 2009 final

Conclusion

Sri Lanka vs Pakistan is a historic Asian cricket rivalry that has produced some memorable T20I matches. From the first meeting at the 2007 World Twenty20 to the five-run thriller in the 2026 T20 World Cup, both teams have experienced periods of success.

Pakistan currently lead the official T20I head-to-head record 18-12 after 30 matches.

The rivalry has also featured two major tournament finals. Pakistan defeated Sri Lanka in the 2009 T20 World Cup final, while Sri Lanka defeated Pakistan in the 2022 Asia Cup final.

Recent encounters have remained competitive. Sri Lanka won one match during the January 2026 bilateral series, while Pakistan won another, before Pakistan secured a five-run victory in the 2026 T20 World Cup.

With both countries continuing to develop talented T20 players, Sri Lanka vs Pakistan remains an important fixture in international cricket.

5 Frequently Asked Questions

1. How many T20Is have Sri Lanka and Pakistan played?

Sri Lanka and Pakistan have played 30 official men’s T20 Internationals against each other.

2. Who has won more T20Is between Sri Lanka and Pakistan?

Pakistan have won 18 T20Is, while Sri Lanka have won 12.

3. What is Pakistan’s highest T20I score against Sri Lanka?