Dasun Shanaka will be in focus when the Sri Lanka cricket team take on Pakistan in a three-match T20I series in Rawalpindi, starting Friday.
All three matches of the PAK vs SL T20 2026 series will be played at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on October 9, 11 and 13, with each T20I scheduled to start live at 6:30 PM IST.
The series forms the opening leg of Sri Lanka’s tour of Pakistan, which will also feature an ODI tri-series involving England later in October and two Tests in November.
Kusal Mendis will captain Sri Lanka in the T20Is, while Pakistan will be led by Sahibzada Farhan.
For the Rajasthan Royals, the spotlight will be on Shanaka, who represented the franchise in seven matches during IPL 2026.
The Sri Lankan all-rounder has enjoyed some explosive outings against Pakistan this year.
At the T20 World Cup 2026, Shanaka smashed an unbeaten 76 off just 31 balls, hitting eight sixes as Sri Lanka came within five runs of chasing down Pakistan’s 212/8 in Pallekele.
Earlier in January, he struck 34 off only nine balls in the third T20I in Dambulla as Sri Lanka beat Pakistan by 14 runs to level the rain-affected three-match series 1-1.
Shanaka also heads into the Pakistan tour following a prolific recent run in franchise cricket. In September, he hammered an unbeaten 121 off 43 balls in the Caribbean, an innings featuring eight fours and 12 sixes.
Following the three T20Is, the two teams will turn their attention to the ODI tri-series alongside England, beginning on October 18.
Pakistan vs Sri Lanka T20 2026 schedule and live India match start times
- October 9, Friday: Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, 1st T20I - 6:30 PM
- October 11, Sunday: Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, 2nd T20I - 6:30 PM
- October 13, Tuesday: Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, 3rd T20I - 6:30 PM
