Pakistan clinch T20I series against Sri Lanka as Maaz Sadaqat smashes 96 in Rawalpindi
An 82-run win in the second match gave new captain Sahibzada Farhan his first series victory, with a seven-match ODI tri-series next on the calendar.
At a glance
- Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by 82 runs in the second T20I on October 11 to take an unbeatable 2–0 lead; Sri Lanka won the third by eight wickets, so Pakistan took the series 2–1.
- Maaz Sadaqat top-scored with 96 off 51 balls as Pakistan posted 215/3 in the second match.
- Captain Sahibzada Farhan scored 89 in the opener and 76 in the third match.
- A seven-match ODI tri-series with Sri Lanka and England began in Rawalpindi on October 18.
Pakistan won the T20 International series against Sri Lanka with a match to spare, hammering the visitors by 82 runs at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Sunday, October 11. The win handed Sahibzada Farhan his first series victory as captain, although Sri Lanka salvaged a consolation win in the final match to make it 2–1.
Series results
| Match | Date | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1st T20I | Fri, Oct 9 | Pakistan won by 4 wickets |
| 2nd T20I | Sun, Oct 11 | Pakistan won by 82 runs |
| 3rd T20I | Tue, Oct 13 | Sri Lanka won by 8 wickets |
| Series | Pakistan won 2–1 |
All three matches were played at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.
1st T20I: Farhan leads from the front
The opener belonged to the new captain. Chasing 183 after Lahiru Udara's 91 off 55 balls, Farhan hit 89 off 53, with ten fours and four sixes, and Pakistan won by four wickets with seven balls to spare. Naseem Shah marked his return with 3 for 36, while Mohammad Imran took 2 for 21. Farhan was the leading run-scorer at the 2026 T20 World Cup earlier this year.
2nd T20I: Sadaqat's near-century
Maaz Sadaqat was the star, striking 96 off just 51 balls as Pakistan piled up 215 for 3. Pakistan made one change, bringing in Salman Mirza for Razaullah. Sri Lanka's batters never built a meaningful partnership against a varied attack and finished on 133 for 7, giving Pakistan an unbeatable 2–0 lead.
3rd T20I: Sri Lanka avoid a whitewash
With the series decided, Sri Lanka hit back. Pakistan were restricted to 168 for 8 despite another fine innings from Farhan, who made 76 off 47 balls, and a late 34 not out off 20 from Arafat Minhas. Dasun Shanaka took 3 for 21 and Eshan Malinga struck twice in one over. Sri Lanka then chased 169 with ease, reaching the target in 17 overs for the loss of two wickets.
Talking points
- Farhan's form: 165 runs in the first and third matches alone make him the standout batter of the series, and his captaincy start is a positive sign.
- Sadaqat's rise: the young batter's 96 was the innings of the series and strengthens his claim to a regular place.
- Middle-order concerns: the third match showed Pakistan can still struggle when the top order does not fire.
A packed October in Rawalpindi and Lahore
Next comes a seven-match ODI tri-series between Pakistan, Sri Lanka and England from October 18 to 31. The first three games are in Rawalpindi; the remaining four, including the final, move to Lahore's Gaddafi Stadium. Sri Lanka will then stay on for two Test matches.
For Pakistan, a series win under a new captain is the confidence boost they wanted before a demanding stretch of cricket against two strong touring sides.
Questions people are asking
Who won the Pakistan vs Sri Lanka T20I series 2026?
Pakistan won 2–1. They won the first two matches in Rawalpindi, and Sri Lanka won the third by eight wickets on October 13.
Who is Pakistan's T20I captain?
Sahibzada Farhan, who began his captaincy at home against Sri Lanka in October 2026 and won the series in his first two matches.
What comes after the T20I series?
A seven-match ODI tri-series between Pakistan, Sri Lanka and England from October 18 to 31, with games in Rawalpindi and Lahore, followed by two Tests against Sri Lanka.
