It will be an Asian showdown at Pallekele Stadium as Sri Lanka will take on Pakistan for their last match of the campaign. After being knocked out by New Zealand, co-hosts will take on Pakistan who also failed to proceed to the semi-finals stage.
In their second group stage of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026, Sri Lanka faced defeats from England and New Zealand. Meanwhile, Pakistan’s match against New Zealand was abandoned due to rain and they lost the next match to England. Despite impressive starts in their respective groups in the first league stage of the tournament, both Sri Lanka and Pakistan failed to make a bold impression in the later stage of the ICC T20 World Cup.
So far in T20 internationals, the contest between Sri Lanka and Pakistan has always been a cherished rivalry with many close encounter matches played between the two teams. From the ICC World Twenty20 2009 final to ACC Asia Cup 2022 final, when these two teams play fans are guaranteed unlimited entertainment.
SL vs PAK Head to Head in T20Is
In the Head-to-Head contest between Sri Lanka and Pakistan, the Men-in-Green are ahead of Sri Lanka with 17 wins out of 29 matches.
| Matches played | SL won | Pakistan won | No result |
| 29 | 12 | 17 | 0 |
SL vs PAK Head to Head in T20 World Cup
Despite Pakistan’s better overall record against Sri Lanka in T20Is, both the sides have won an equal number of matches against each other in the T20 World Cup.
| Matches played | SL won | Pakistan won | No result |
| 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
Sri Lanka National Cricket Team vs Pakistan National Cricket Team Timeline: T20 World Cup
Sri Lanka and Pakistan have played only four times against each other in the T20 World Cup. The first time they faced each other was in 2007 where Pakistan national cricket team won by 33 runs, while their latest meeting came in 2012. Pakistan and Sri Lanka will now face each other in a T20 World Cup match after 14 years.
| Year | Tournament | Venue | Match result |
| 2007 | ICC World Twenty20 | Johannesburg | Pakistan won by 33 runs |
| 2009 | ICC World Twenty20 | Lord’s | SL won by 19 runs |
| 2009 | ICC World Twenty20 | Lord’s | Pakistan won by 8 wickets |
| 2012 | ICC World Twenty20 | Colombo (RPS) | SL won by 16 runs |
Sri Lanka National Cricket Team vs Pakistan National Cricket Team Stats: T20I
- Most runs: Shoaib Malik (PAK) 397 runs in 16 innings
- Highest individual score: Kusal Perara (SL) 84 runs off 59 balls
- Most wickets:Wanindu Hasaranga (SL) 23 in 11 innings
- Best bowling figure: Umar Gul (PAK) 3/14 in 3 overs
SL vs PAK Team-Wise ICC T20I ranking
- Sri Lanka’s ranking: 8th
- Pakistan’s ranking: 6th
SL vs PAK Player-Wise T20I ranking
| Team | Player Name | ICC T20I Batting ranking |
| Sri Lanka | Pathum Nissanka | 4th |
| Pakistan | Sahibzada Farhan | 3rd |
| Team | Player Name | ICC T20I Bowling ranking |
| Sri Lanka | Abrar Ahmed | 5th |
| Pakistan | Wanindu Hasaranga | 10th |
| Team | Player Name | ICC T20I All-rounder ranking |
| Sri Lanka | Wanindu Hasaranga | 16th |
| Pakistan | Saim Ayub | 2nd |
