The Sri Lanka national cricket team vs Pakistan national cricket team timeline describes the results of international cricket matches played by Sri Lankan and Pakistani teams in international competitions since the 1970s. This rivalry started in early One-Day International cricket and then later transferred to Test and T20I cricket. Sri Lanka and Pakistan have had a storied rivalry that has pitted the two teams against each other across everything from World Cups and Asia Cups to bilateral series and many more major international competitions.
They first faced each other in an ODI during the 1975 World Cup (in Nottingham) and Sri Lanka’s Test era/timeline didn’t even start until 1982. Pakistan hosted the first Test series between the teams in March 1982, where Pakistan won two Tests and one was drawn.
Following that series, the Pakistan vs Sri Lanka rivalry has given us classics that featured cricketing greats, nail biting finishes and even some crucial clashes of tournaments. The modern era features Pakistan 3–0 ODI series win of November 2025, a 1–1 T20I series in January 2026 and Pakistan five-run defeat against Sri Lanka at the T20 World Cup.
Sri Lanka National Cricket Team vs Pakistan National Cricket Team Timeline
Sri Lanka vs Pakistan Cricket Timeline at a Glance
| Year | Major Event | Result/Significance |
| 1975 | First ODI meeting | Pakistan and Sri Lanka met at Nottingham during the inaugural World Cup. |
| 1982 | First Test series | Pakistan hosted Sri Lanka for three Tests and won the series 2–0. |
| 1990s | Rivalry expands | Regular bilateral and tournament encounters increased. |
| 1996 | World Cup era | Sri Lanka emerged as a major world cricket force. |
| 2000s | Major Asian contests | Test, ODI and T20 cricket brought more frequent meetings. |
| 2009 | World T20 final | Pakistan defeated Sri Lanka in the final to win the inaugural T20 World Cup-era title. |
| 2010s | Asia Cup and bilateral battles | Both teams continued to meet regularly across formats. |
| 2023 | ODI World Cup | Pakistan chased 345 against Sri Lanka, with Mohammad Rizwan scoring 131*. |
| 2025 | ODI series in Pakistan | Pakistan completed a 3–0 series sweep. |
| Jan 2026 | T20I series in Dambulla | The series ended 1–1 after one match was abandoned. |
| Feb 2026 | T20 World Cup | Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by five runs in Kandy. |
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When Did Sri Lanka and Pakistan First Play Cricket?
The first encounter between the two nations in international ODI cricket came at the 1975 Cricket World Cup (held in England). Sri Lanka was one of the eight sides at the first men’s World Cup; Pakistan has been one of Test cricket’s established nations in the tournament.
The first of their ODI meetings was held on 14 June 1975 in Nottingham. Pakistani win with 3/15 from I.. but it was batters that won the game. According to records with ESPNcricinfo, the fixture is ODI No. 30.
That meeting was an important date as it took place during the time before Sri Lanka became a Test-playing country. Sri Lanka was granted Test status in 1981 and played its inaugural Test in February 1982.
Sri Lanka vs Pakistan Test Cricket Timeline
Test cricket added another dimension to the rivalry in 1982. Pakistan hosted Sri Lanka for a three-Test series in March of that year.
First Test Series Between Sri Lanka and Pakistan
The inaugural Test series consisted of three matches:
| Test | Date | Venue | Result |
| 1st Test | 5–10 March 1982 | Karachi | Pakistan won by 204 runs |
| 2nd Test | 14–19 March 1982 | Faisalabad | Draw |
| 3rd Test | 22–26 March 1982 | Lahore | Pakistan won by an innings and 102 runs |
The three matches at Karachi, Faisalabad and Lahore are also part of PCB’s official records.
Pakistan took an early lead in the rivalry by winning the series 2–0. It was a series that also included great defensive showings from multiple players for both teams. Sri Lanka’s Sidath Wettimuny was the leading run-scorer in the series, while Somachandra de Silva finished as the leading wicket-taker with 17.
Sri Lanka National Cricket Team vs Pakistan National Cricket Team Timeline
Major Test Series and Memorable Matches
When Sri Lanka began to evolve into a stronger Test outfit, the battles became more competitive. Their long-ago rivalry created some of the most memorable moments in Sri Lanka and Pakistan, especially on pitches where Pakistani quicks or Lankan spinners could rule.
Test cricket, in particular, opened up the long-term possibilities for rivalry not limited to 50-over tournaments. Imran Khan, Javed Miandad, Arjuna Ranatunga and Muttiah Muralitharan left their stamps on many matches between the two countries thanks to long series.
Sri Lanka vs Pakistan ODI Timeline
The ODI rivalry is one of the most extensive parts of the Sri Lanka vs Pakistan cricket history.
By November 2025, the teams had played 157 ODIs, with Pakistan winning 93 and Sri Lanka winning 59. One match was tied and four ended without a result. These figures were published by the Pakistan Cricket Board ahead of the 2025 ODI series.
ODI Head-to-Head Record
| Category | Sri Lanka | Pakistan |
| Matches | 157 | 157 |
| Wins | 59 | $93.00 |
| Losses | 93 | $59.00 |
| Ties | 1 | $1.00 |
| No Results | 4 | $4.00 |
Data note: These figures are based on the official PCB head-to-head information published before the November 2025 ODI series. The three subsequent 2025 ODIs were also won by Pakistan, so the overall ODI win totals increased to 96 Pakistan wins and 59 Sri Lanka wins, with one tie and four no-results, based on those results.
The ODI rivalry has also featured major Asia Cup and World Cup encounters.
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Sri Lanka vs Pakistan T20I Timeline
Thus, the T20I chapter started after the format of Twenty20 cricket on the international front was established. Pakistan and Sri Lanka have played each other in bilateral series, Asia Cup ties, World T20 tournament matches and also tri-series since then.
One of the earliest major moments was a win for Pakistan over Sri Lanka in the World Twenty20 final back in 2009.
Pakistan vs Sri Lanka: A competitive modern T20I rivalry PCB said that the Jan 2026 bilateral series win was Pakistan’s third in the last five T20Is between the sides, after a knock-out match at the 2025 ACC Men’s T20 Asia Cup and also won them out of a total of five.
January 2026 T20I Series
The three-match series in Dambulla produced a 1–1 result:
| Date | Match | Result |
| 7 Jan 2026 | 1st T20I | Pakistan won by 6 wickets |
| 9 Jan 2026 | 2nd T20I | Abandoned without a ball bowled |
| 11 Jan 2026 | 3rd T20I | Sri Lanka won by 14 runs (DLS) |
Pakistan won the opening match after restricting Sri Lanka to 128. Sahibzada Farhan scored 51, while Shadab Khan contributed an unbeaten 18 and took 2/25.
The second match was abandoned because of persistent rain.
Sri Lanka then levelled the series in the rain-affected third T20I. They made 160/6 from 12 overs, while Pakistan reached 146/8 in 20 overs. Wanindu Hasaranga was named Player of the Match and Player of the Series.
Sri Lanka vs Pakistan Most Memorable Matches
1. 1975 World Cup — First ODI Meeting
However, the Nottingham World Cup match of 1975 marks the start of this officially recognised ODI rivalry. Pakistan won the match, and the game marked the outset of an enduring Asian cricket rivalry.
2. 1982 First Test Series
Sri Lanka: Pakistan’s first international Tests series Pakistan took two Tests, a 204-run win in Karachi and an innings-and-102-runs victory in Lahore.
3. 2009 World T20 Final
One of the most iconic matches in this rivalry until now, has to be that 2009 World Twenty20 final. It was an international tournament victory for Pakistan, as they overcame Sri Lanka in the final to win a much-coveted global title in Pakistani Cricket University.
4. 2023 ODI World Cup
One of the more fabled One-Day Internationals came at Hyderabad during the 2023 World Cup. Sri Lanka 344/9 (50 overs): Kusal Mendis 170, Sadeera Samarawickrama 120; Ben Stokes 3-83. Pakistan were to chase it, they made 345/4.
Mohammad Rizwan remained not out on 131 while Abdullah Shafique scored a century. This chase by Pakistan according to ICC was then described as the highest successful chase in World Cup history.
5. 2025 ODI Series in Pakistan
In November 2025, Pakistan played in the three-match ODI series. Pakistan won the first match by six runs, the second one by eight wickets and another one by six wickets.
Pakistan completed a series whitewash by taking a 3–0 win in the match.
6. 2026 T20 World Cup Super Eight
Another sensational installment in February 2026 was the World Cup match. Pakistan posted 212/8, marred by a century from our boy Sahibzada Farhan, while Sri Lanka clawed their way back with 207⁄6.
Pakistan ultimately emerged victorious by a margin of five runs. Dasun Shanaka made 76 not out off 31 balls for Sri Lanka but they lost the contest narrowly.
Sri Lanka National Cricket Team vs Pakistan National Cricket Team Timeline Head-to-Head Record
Test Head-to-Head
The Test rivalry began in 1982, when Pakistan won the inaugural three-match series 2–0.
For a website article, it is better to display the Test total using a current database snapshot and clearly state the “updated through” date, rather than presenting an undated figure that can become outdated.
ODI Head-to-Head
The official PCB record before the November 2025 series was:
| Record | Pakistan | Sri Lanka |
| ODIs played | 157 | 157 |
| Wins | 93 | $59.00 |
| Tie | 1 | $1.00 |
| No Result | 4 | $4.00 |
Pakistan subsequently won all three ODIs in November 2025, making its total number of wins 96 after that series.
T20I Head-to-Head
The T20I record should also be presented with an updated-through date, particularly because the teams played multiple matches in 2025 and 2026. The January 2026 bilateral series finished 1–1, with the second match abandoned.
Sri Lanka vs Pakistan Biggest Wins and Best Performances
| Record | Player/Team | Performance | Year |
| First ODI rivalry win | Pakistan | Won first ODI meeting | 1975 |
| First Test series | Pakistan | Series won 2–0 | 1982 |
| Major T20 achievement | Pakistan | Won World T20 final | 2009 |
| Major World Cup chase | Pakistan | Chased 345 against Sri Lanka | 2023 |
| ODI series sweep | Pakistan | Won series 3–0 | 2025 |
| T20I series result | Sri Lanka/Pakistan | Series drawn 1–1 | 2026 |
| T20 World Cup clash | Pakistan | Won by 5 runs | 2026 |
In the 2025 ODI series, Salman Ali Agha scored an unbeaten 105 in the opening match, helping Pakistan post 299/5 before winning by six runs.
In the third ODI, Pakistan won by six wickets after restricting Sri Lanka to 211. Mohammad Wasim Jnr was named Player of the Match.
Sri Lanka vs Pakistan 2025 Matches
The 2025 ODI series was played at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.
| Date | Match | Result |
| 11 Nov 2025 | 1st ODI | Pakistan won by 6 runs |
| 14 Nov 2025 | 2nd ODI | Pakistan won by 8 wickets |
| 16 Nov 2025 | 3rd ODI | Pakistan won by 6 wickets |
The PCB confirmed that the three-match series was swept 3-0 by Pakistan.
The first ODI was particularly close. Pakistan scored 299/5, with Salman Ali Agha making 105*, while Sri Lanka were eventually restricted to a narrow six-run defeat.
Sri Lanka vs Pakistan 2026 Matches and Latest Results
Two monumental chapters in the men’s rivalry were added for 2026.
Pakistan and Sri Lanka first held a three-match T20I series at Dambulla. All Efforts Finally Paid OffPakistan won the first match, whilst the second was washed out and Sri Lanka won the third, to leave the three-match series level at 1–1.
The teams will be facing each other at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 after that. 5 Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by five runs in Super Eight match Kandy While Sahibzada Farhan helped Pakistan to 212/8 with a century, Sri Lanka managed 207/6.
The result meant Pakistan progressed to the semi-finals on the required net-run-rate equation but just by five runs.
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Key Players in Sri Lanka vs Pakistan Rivalry
Pakistan’s Key Players
On the other hand, Pakistan’s end of the rivalry has seen various pivotal cricketers emerge through different generations. Pakistan’s first ODI meeting came during the 1975 World Cup at Nottingham in which Imran Khan was already playing a key role (with figures of 3/15 against Sri Lanka).
It attracted players like Javed Miandad, Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis and led to the selection of other big Pakistan stars in further generations.
Babar Azam has been especially damaging versus Sri Lanka in ODIs in the current day and age. In his 12 ODIs before the series against the Lions in 2025, the PCB released that he had scored 535 runs at an average of 53.50 with three hundreds against Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka’s Key Players
Sri Lanka took on Pakistan and plenty such players, including Sidath Wettimuny, Arjuna Ranatunga and Muttiah Muralitharan, who led or followed their lead in defining that nation as an 11-man team.
This has also seen Sri Lanka’s young guns such as Kusal Mendis, Wanindu Hasaranga, Pathum Nissanka and Dasun Shanaka stepping up with crucial performances.
Shanaka top-scored for Sri Lanka with a heroic knock of 31 off just 76 balls before fading away in the Super Over against Pakistan at the 2026 T20 World Cup.
Sri Lanka vs Pakistan Rivalry in Asian Cricket
Pakistan vs Sri Lanka cricket rivalry is important to understand because both teams have been at the very top of Asian cricket for decades now.
This rivalry has been here in nearly every prominent type of pairing. While ODIs have dominated the Asia Cup and World Cup, Test matches offered long-form tactical battles. Another dimension was added to T20 cricket through the various global and bilateral tournaments.
The Asia Cup – campaigns are distinctively crucial since both Pakistan & Sri Lanka in particular and meet often at crunch junctures of a competition. Furthermore, both teams have competed for the major Asian cricket honour for many years and their matches often have this extra significance.
It is also a tale of the evolution of cricket in South Asia. Sri Lanka went from being a non-Test-playing nation in the 1970s to lifting a World Cup, while Pakistan have continued comfortably as one of the bigger names in world cricket.
Sri Lanka National Cricket Team vs Pakistan National Cricket Team Timeline – Key Milestones
| Period | Key Development |
| Early Years | First ODI meeting during the 1975 World Cup |
| 1980s | Test rivalry begins with Pakistan’s 2–0 series victory in 1982 |
| 1990s | Both teams become established Asian cricket powers |
| 2000s | More regular Test, ODI and T20 encounters |
| 2009 | Pakistan defeats Sri Lanka in World T20 final |
| 2010s | Regular Asia Cup and bilateral meetings |
| 2020s | High-profile ICC and Asia Cup encounters continue |
| 2025 | Pakistan sweeps Sri Lanka 3–0 in ODI series |
| 2026 | T20I series ends 1–1; Pakistan beats Sri Lanka by 5 runs in T20 World Cup |
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FAQ’s – Sri Lanka National Cricket Team vs Pakistan National Cricket Team Timeline
When did Sri Lanka and Pakistan first play cricket?
Sri Lanka and Pakistan first met in ODI cricket on 14 June 1975 at Nottingham during the inaugural Cricket World Cup. Pakistan won the match.
When did Sri Lanka and Pakistan first play a Test match?
Their first Test was played in March 1982 at Karachi. It was part of a three-Test series in Pakistan, which Pakistan won 2–0.
Who has won more matches between Sri Lanka and Pakistan?
Pakistan has historically held the advantage in the ODI rivalry. Before the November 2025 series, Pakistan had won 93 of 157 ODIs compared with Sri Lanka’s 59. Pakistan then won all three matches of the 2025 series.
Who won the 2009 T20 World Cup final between Pakistan and Sri Lanka?
Pakistan defeated Sri Lanka in the 2009 World Twenty20 final to win the tournament.
What is the Sri Lanka vs Pakistan ODI head-to-head record?
Before the November 2025 series, the teams had played 157 ODIs: Pakistan won 93, Sri Lanka won 59, one was tied and four ended without a result. Pakistan then won three more matches in November 2025.
What is the Sri Lanka vs Pakistan T20I head-to-head record?
The T20I head-to-head should be checked against the latest official record because the teams played additional matches in 2026. Their January 2026 three-match series ended 1–1, with one abandoned match.
What was the latest Sri Lanka vs Pakistan men’s match result?
The latest major men’s meeting found in the 2026 international record was the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Super Eight match on 28 February 2026, when Pakistan defeated Sri Lanka by five runs in Kandy.
Conclusion
The timeline of the Sri Lanka National Cricket Team vs Pakistan National Cricket Team Timeline represents a series of international matches played between the two countries over the last more than 50 years. The rivalry has evolved across three formats – Tests, ODIs and T20Is – starting with their first ODI in the 1975 World Cup and transitioning to Test cricket in 1982.
Pakistan climbed high with their first Test series lead and has been strong in ODIs as well. On the other hand, Sri Lanka does have significant wins and some iconic performances in world cups. Some of the most remarkable chapters include the 2009 world T20 final, the chase at the 2023 World Cup, an ODI series in 2025 and a dramatic T20 World Cup encounter from 2026.
New matches between the two sides will only add to the landmarks of this rich Asian cricket rivalry as both outfits continue their metamorphosis\user.
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