SL vs PAK Match Preview – 1st T20I, Pakistan tour of Sri Lanka 2026

Sri Lanka will face Pakistan in the first of three T20I matches series. SL vs PAK match preview provides today’s match details for the first match.

SL vs PAK Match Preview – 1st T20I, Pakistan tour of Sri Lanka 2026:

Date and place:

The SL vs PAK match will be played on January 7 at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium in Dambulla. The game will begin at 7:00 p.m. IST.

Squads:

Sri Lanka

Dasun Shanaka (c) Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Kusal Perera, Dhananjaya de Silva, Niroshan Dickwella, Janith Liyanage, Charith Asalanka, Kamindu Mendis, Pawan Rathnayake, Sahan Arachchige, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dunith Wellalage, Milan Ratnayake, Nuwan Ensure, Eshan Malinga, Dushmantha Chameera, Pramod Madushan, Matheesha Pathirana, Dilshan Madushan, Maheesh Theekshana, Dushan Hemantha, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth, Trevin Mathew, Kamil Mishara

Pakistan

Salman Ali Agha (c), Abdoul Samad, Abrar AhmedFaheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Khawaja Nafay, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Shadab Khan, Usman Khan, Usman Tariq

Key battles SL vs PAK:

Pathum Nissanka vs. Mohammad Salman Mirza

Sri Lankan opener Pathum Nissanka, who was in good form in 2025, would like to extend that in the first match of 2026 and put in a match-winning performance against Pakistan.

Nissanka will have to tackle the bowling of Mohammad Salman Mirza, who has had a good start to his international career and would like to build on that by leading his team to victory in this particular match.

Kusal Mendis vs. Abrar Ahmed

Partnering Nissanka at the top of the order, Kusal Mendis would also be aiming for a good start to the year with the T20 World Cup in sight.

Mendis will face Abrar Ahmed, who is expected to find a place in the playing XI for the first T20I.

Fakhar Zaman vs. Dushmantha Chameera

Experienced opener Fakhar Zaman would look to play aggressively if he manages to open the innings in the next match.

Fakhar will face Dushmantha Chameera, who will be responsible for picking wickets with the new ball.

Sahibzada Farhan vs Wanindu Hasaranga

Sahibzada Farhan, who had a few good outings last year, will be hoping to replicate the same performance in the first match of the year.

Sahibzada Farhan will face the challenge of Wanindu Hasaranga, who will lead Sri Lanka’s spin bowling department and look to pick wickets at regular intervals for the team while maintaining his economy to create pressure on the batters.

Key players of SL against PAK:

SL – Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Kamil Mishara, Dushmantha Chameera, Wanindu Hasaranga

PAK– Sahibzada Farhan, Fakhar Zaman, Saim Ayub, Usman Tariq, Abrar Ahmad

SL vs PAK weather report:

There is a 65% chance of rain during the second day of the match in Dambulla, with a maximum temperature of 24°C and a minimum of 18°C.

Conclusion

Both teams will look to give it their all in the first game of the series in an effort to win the match and take a 1-0 series lead.