The sl vs pak cricket rivalry has produced memorable World Cup contests, dramatic Asia Cup matches, long Test battles and unpredictable T20 finishes. Pakistan hold the stronger overall record across the three major men’s international formats, but Sri Lanka have repeatedly challenged them in major Asian tournaments and high-pressure matches.
Quick answer: sl vs pak refers to the international cricket rivalry between Sri Lanka and Pakistan. Pakistan currently lead the men’s head-to-head records in Tests, ODIs and T20Is. Their next major meetings are scheduled in Pakistan in October and November 2026, including three T20Is, an ODI tri-series and two World Test Championship Tests.
This guide explains the numbers behind the rivalry, recent results, memorable encounters, format-by-format differences and what comes next.
sl vs pak Head-to-Head Record Across Formats
Pakistan and Sri Lanka have played each other regularly since Sri Lanka became a Test nation in the early 1980s.
The rivalry spans Test cricket, One Day Internationals and T20 Internationals, along with competitions such as the Cricket World Cup, T20 World Cup and Asia Cup.
The men’s head-to-head figures before their scheduled October-November 2026 meetings are:
| Format | Matches | Pakistan Wins | Sri Lanka Wins | Other Results |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tests | 59 | 23 | 17 | 19 draws |
| ODIs | 160 | 96 | 59 | 1 tie, 4 no-results |
| T20Is | 30 | 18 | 12 | 0 |
| Total | 249 | 137 | 88 | 24 |
Pakistan therefore have the historical advantage in all three formats. The gap is particularly substantial in ODI cricket, where Pakistan have won 96 of their 160 meetings.
The raw numbers, however, do not tell the entire story. Sri Lanka have enjoyed considerable success against Pakistan in the Asia Cup and have produced several major tournament victories.
sl vs pak Test Head-to-Head Record
Test cricket provides perhaps the best demonstration of how competitive Sri Lanka and Pakistan can be over an extended period.
Their Test record stands at:
- Matches: 59
- Pakistan wins: 23
- Sri Lanka wins: 17
- Draws: 19
Pakistan have won roughly 39% of the Tests between the teams, compared with about 29% for Sri Lanka. The remaining matches ended in draws.
Why Test Matches Between Pakistan and Sri Lanka Are Interesting
Both countries have historically produced excellent spin bowlers, while Pakistan have also been renowned for high-quality fast bowling.
Conditions can radically change the balance.
In Sri Lanka, turning pitches can bring slow bowlers into the contest early. Batters need good footwork, patience and the ability to rotate strike against spin.
Pakistan can offer a broader mixture. Surfaces may reward reverse swing, conventional pace bowling or spin depending on the venue and stage of the match.
That makes adaptability particularly important.
Pakistan’s Test Advantage
Pakistan’s 23-17 lead is meaningful but far from overwhelming.
Sri Lanka have regularly been difficult opponents at home, while Pakistan have produced some outstanding performances in Sri Lankan conditions.
The teams’ Test history includes major names such as Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Muttiah Muralitharan, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Younis Khan and Inzamam-ul-Haq.
Different generations have therefore given the rivalry very different tactical identities.
Earlier contests could revolve around elite pace and reverse swing. Later encounters increasingly highlighted high-quality spin, aggressive batting and the importance of first-innings totals.
sl vs pak ODI Head-to-Head Record
ODI cricket is where Pakistan’s historical statistical advantage becomes most obvious.
Before their upcoming 2026 ODI meetings, the record stands at approximately:
| ODI Record | Pakistan | Sri Lanka |
|---|---|---|
| Matches | 160 | 160 |
| Wins | 96 | 59 |
| Win share of all meetings | 60.0% | 36.9% |
There has also been one tie and four no-results.
Pakistan’s 96 ODI victories give them a commanding overall lead.
That advantage has been built over decades rather than one particularly dominant period.
Why Pakistan Have Historically Done Well in ODIs
Pakistan’s best ODI sides have typically combined attacking fast bowling with middle-over wicket-taking options.
That matters against Sri Lanka because simply restricting runs is rarely enough. Breaking partnerships is crucial.
Pakistan have also traditionally enjoyed success against Sri Lanka in neutral conditions, particularly when matches were played in the United Arab Emirates.
Sri Lanka, however, have often been dangerous when their top order establishes a platform and their spinners can defend a competitive total.
The 2025 ODI Series
One of the clearest recent examples of Pakistan’s ODI advantage came when Sri Lanka toured Pakistan in November 2025.
All three matches were played at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.
Pakistan won the series 3-0.
The results were:
| Match | Result |
|---|---|
| 1st ODI | Pakistan won by 6 runs |
| 2nd ODI | Pakistan won by 8 wickets |
| 3rd ODI | Pakistan won by 6 wickets |
The opening game was the closest.
Pakistan scored 299/5 after Salman Ali Agha produced an unbeaten 105 from 87 balls. Sri Lanka pushed the chase deep but Pakistan eventually held on for a six-run victory.
The second ODI brought another major individual performance.
Babar Azam’s Century Against Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka made 288/8 in the second match before Pakistan chased the target with eight wickets remaining.
Babar Azam scored his 20th ODI century during the chase, equalling Saeed Anwar’s then-record tally of 20 ODI hundreds for Pakistan. Pakistan reached the target in 48.2 overs.
The result also secured Pakistan’s fourth consecutive bilateral ODI series victory against Sri Lanka dating from 2015.
Pakistan completed the sweep in the third ODI.
Sri Lanka were bowled out for 211 in 45.2 overs, with Mohammad Wasim Jnr playing a major role with the ball. Pakistan then won by six wickets.
Quick takeaway: Recent ODI evidence reinforces the historical record. Pakistan not only lead the overall sl vs pak ODI head-to-head but swept the most recent bilateral ODI series 3-0.
sl vs pak T20 Head-to-Head Record
The shorter format has produced a closer rivalry.
Through the teams’ February 2026 meeting:
- Matches: 30
- Pakistan wins: 18
- Sri Lanka wins: 12
- Ties: 0
Pakistan have therefore won 60% of their official men’s T20I meetings, while Sri Lanka have won 40%.
Recent Sri Lanka vs Pakistan T20 Results
The recent results illustrate why relying purely on the overall record can be misleading.
Their latest six completed T20 meetings through February 2026 included:
| Date | Result |
|---|---|
| 28 Feb 2026 | Pakistan won by 5 runs |
| 11 Jan 2026 | Sri Lanka won by 14 runs |
| 7 Jan 2026 | Pakistan won by 6 wickets |
| 29 Nov 2025 | Pakistan won by 6 wickets |
| 27 Nov 2025 | Sri Lanka won by 6 runs |
| 22 Nov 2025 | Pakistan won by 7 wickets |
Pakistan won four of those six matches, but Sri Lanka remained highly competitive.
The margins are revealing.
There were victories by five runs and six runs, showing how quickly the balance can change in T20 cricket.
January 2026 T20I Series
Pakistan visited Sri Lanka for a T20I series in January 2026.
In the opening match at Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium, Sri Lanka were bowled out for 128.
Pakistan reached 129/4 in 16.4 overs to win by six wickets. Shadab Khan was Player of the Match after contributing 18 runs and taking 2/25.
Sri Lanka responded strongly in the third T20I.
The match was shortened to 12 overs per side. Sri Lanka scored 160/6 before restricting Pakistan to 146/8, winning by 14 runs.
Wanindu Hasaranga took 4/35 and was named both Player of the Match and Player of the Series.
One detail matters when comparing head-to-head databases: the scheduled second match was abandoned before the toss, so it did not become an official T20I. That helps explain why some online head-to-head totals may differ.
Pakistan vs Sri Lanka in the 2026 T20 World Cup
The teams met again on 28 February 2026 during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
It became one of their closest recent encounters.
Pakistan made 212/8, while Sri Lanka replied with 207/6.
Pakistan won by just five runs.
A five-run margin in a match producing 419 runs highlights a recurring feature of the modern rivalry: neither side can assume control simply because of its historical head-to-head advantage.
T20 matches are particularly sensitive to short bursts of play.
One productive powerplay, a two-wicket over, a dropped catch or an explosive final over can completely alter the result.
Pakistan vs Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup
The overall international record favors Pakistan, but the Asia Cup tells a very different story.
Across their first 19 Asia Cup meetings:
- Sri Lanka wins: 13
- Pakistan wins: 6
Sri Lanka therefore have more than twice as many victories as Pakistan in this particular competition.
That contrast is one of the most interesting statistical features of the rivalry.
Pakistan dominate the overall ODI head-to-head and lead the T20I record, yet Sri Lanka have historically been the more successful side when the two meet in the Asia Cup.
The 2014 Asia Cup Final
One of their most significant ODI encounters came in the 2014 Asia Cup final.
Pakistan recovered from 18/3 through Misbah-ul-Haq, Fawad Alam and Umar Akmal, eventually reaching 260.
Fawad Alam finished unbeaten on 114.
Sri Lanka responded through a decisive partnership between Lahiru Thirimanne and Mahela Jayawardene.
Thirimanne scored 101, Jayawardene added 75, and Sri Lanka completed a five-wicket victory to win the title.
The 2022 Asia Cup Final
Another major chapter arrived in 2022.
Sri Lanka defeated Pakistan by 23 runs in the Asia Cup final, adding another major tournament victory to their record against Pakistan.
That result reinforces an important point when assessing this rivalry: overall head-to-head numbers and tournament-specific performance are not the same thing.
sl vs pak in ODI World Cups
Pakistan have historically enjoyed a particularly strong record against Sri Lanka at the men’s ODI Cricket World Cup.
The rivalry stretches back to the first World Cup in 1975, when Pakistan defeated Sri Lanka at Nottingham.
Over subsequent decades, World Cup encounters became a recurring part of the teams’ shared history.
One of the most memorable modern meetings came at the 2023 Cricket World Cup.
Sri Lanka posted a huge total, but Pakistan successfully completed the chase by six wickets. That was their most recent ODI meeting before Sri Lanka’s 2025 tour of Pakistan.
Tournament cricket adds another dimension to this matchup because both nations have championship pedigrees.
Pakistan won the 1992 Cricket World Cup, while Sri Lanka famously lifted the trophy in 1996.
Both have therefore experienced the pressure of knockout and championship-level cricket.
Key Players Who Have Shaped the Rivalry
The history of Pakistan versus Sri Lanka cannot be explained only through team totals.
Some of Asian cricket’s greatest players have appeared in these contests.
Pakistan Greats
Pakistan’s different generations have included players such as:
- Wasim Akram
- Waqar Younis
- Inzamam-ul-Haq
- Saeed Anwar
- Shahid Afridi
- Younis Khan
- Misbah-ul-Haq
- Babar Azam
Wasim and Waqar gave Pakistan devastating pace and reverse swing. Saeed Anwar and Inzamam supplied elite ODI batting, while later generations brought players such as Babar into the rivalry.
Sri Lankan Greats
Sri Lanka’s side has featured:
- Muttiah Muralitharan
- Sanath Jayasuriya
- Kumar Sangakkara
- Mahela Jayawardene
- Tillakaratne Dilshan
- Lasith Malinga
- Angelo Mathews
Muralitharan’s spin and Malinga’s unconventional pace created completely different challenges for Pakistan’s batters.
Jayasuriya helped redefine aggressive ODI opening, while Sangakkara and Jayawardene gave Sri Lanka exceptional middle-order stability.
The modern generation has introduced another group of influential players, including Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Kamindu Mendis, Charith Asalanka, Maheesh Theekshana and Wanindu Hasaranga.
Pakistan’s more recent sides have featured names including Babar Azam, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Mohammad Rizwan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Nawaz and Shadab Khan.
What Usually Decides a Pakistan vs Sri Lanka Match?
The deciding factors vary significantly by format.
1. Pakistan’s Pace Against Sri Lanka’s Top Order
Pakistan’s fast-bowling tradition makes the opening phase particularly important.
Early wickets can expose Sri Lanka’s middle order before it has an opportunity to build partnerships.
But if Sri Lanka survive the new ball, the tactical advantage can shift.
2. Sri Lanka’s Spin Bowling
Sri Lanka’s strongest modern bowling combinations frequently revolve around spin.
Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana offer different threats: Hasaranga can attack for wickets, while Theekshana’s variations can make scoring difficult.
That becomes particularly relevant on slow surfaces.
3. Middle-Overs Control
In ODI cricket, overs 11-40 can determine whether a team reaches an average total or a match-winning one.
Pakistan have often tried to take wickets through the middle rather than merely defending boundaries.
Sri Lanka generally benefit when their batters establish partnerships and preserve wickets for the final ten overs.
4. Handling Spin While Chasing
A chase can look comfortable until the required rate starts rising against quality spin.
The practical solution is usually rotation rather than constant boundary hunting.
Batters who regularly turn dot balls into singles prevent the spinner from controlling the match.
5. Fielding Under Pressure
This becomes even more important in T20 cricket.
A five-run victory — like Pakistan’s February 2026 World Cup win — can ultimately come down to one boundary saved, one catch taken or one misfield avoided.
Why Head-to-Head Numbers Sometimes Differ Between Websites
Fans searching for sl vs pak records may notice different totals on different cricket websites.
There are several reasons.
Some databases count only official men’s senior internationals. Others may mix formats, include abandoned fixtures differently, use outdated cutoff dates or display tournament records separately from overall records.
The January 2026 T20I series provides a useful example.
A scheduled match was abandoned before the toss. Because play never officially began, it should not simply be treated like a completed T20I when calculating the official head-to-head record.
Another common problem is the cutoff date.
The teams may have played a Test several years before their latest ODI or T20I. A page updated after one format but not another can therefore produce apparently contradictory numbers.
For the cleanest comparison, always check four things: format, senior men’s/women’s classification, cutoff date and whether abandoned matches were officially constituted.
sl vs pak 2026 Schedule: When Do Pakistan and Sri Lanka Play Next?
The next phase of the rivalry is already scheduled.
Pakistan will host Sri Lanka during a substantial home program in October and November 2026.
The tour includes a three-match T20I series followed by an ODI tri-series involving England, and later a two-Test series.
Pakistan vs Sri Lanka T20I Series 2026
| Date | Match | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 9 October 2026 | 1st T20I | Rawalpindi |
| 11 October 2026 | 2nd T20I | Rawalpindi |
| 13 October 2026 | 3rd T20I | Rawalpindi |
All three T20Is are scheduled at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.
These matches will immediately alter the current 18-12 T20I head-to-head record.
Pakistan, Sri Lanka and England ODI Tri-Series
After the T20Is, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and England are scheduled to compete in an ODI tri-series.
It runs from 18 to 31 October 2026, with matches in Rawalpindi and Lahore.
The scheduled Pakistan-Sri Lanka league matches are:
| Date | Match | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 18 October 2026 | Pakistan vs Sri Lanka | Rawalpindi |
| 27 October 2026 | Pakistan vs Sri Lanka | Lahore |
The final is scheduled for 31 October at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore. Depending on the standings, Pakistan and Sri Lanka could potentially meet for a third time during the tournament.
The competition also serves as valuable preparation on the road toward the 2027 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup.
Pakistan vs Sri Lanka Test Series 2026
After the limited-overs matches, attention shifts to Test cricket.
Sri Lanka are scheduled to play a three-day match in Islamabad from 4-6 November before the Test series begins.
The Tests are:
| Date | Match | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 9-13 November 2026 | 1st Test | Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium |
| 17-21 November 2026 | 2nd Test | Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore |
These are not simply bilateral Test matches.
Both Tests form part of the ICC World Test Championship 2025-27.
That gives every result additional significance because World Test Championship points are involved.
Pakistan enter this upcoming home assignment after a difficult Test tour of England, while Sri Lanka also have their own WTC campaign to manage.
Which Team Has the Better sl vs pak Record?
If the question is purely statistical, Pakistan have the better overall men’s international record against Sri Lanka.
They lead:
Tests: 23 wins to 17
ODIs: 96 wins to 59
T20Is: 18 wins to 12
That gives Pakistan the advantage in every major international format before the teams meet again in October 2026.
But there is an important qualification.
Sri Lanka lead Pakistan 13-6 in Asia Cup meetings, demonstrating that tournament context can produce a very different picture from the overall record.
Recent matches also show that the rivalry remains competitive. Sri Lanka beat Pakistan during the November 2025 T20 tri-series and again in January 2026, while Pakistan responded with victories in the tri-series final and their five-run T20 World Cup thriller.
Final Thoughts on sl vs pak
The sl vs pak rivalry combines two very different but highly successful cricket traditions. Pakistan’s historical strengths have often centered on pace, wicket-taking ability and explosive batting, while Sri Lanka have repeatedly challenged them through technically strong batting, high-quality spin and excellent performances in Asian tournaments.
Pakistan currently lead the men’s head-to-head record in Tests, ODIs and T20Is, and their 3-0 ODI sweep in November 2025 strengthened that advantage. Sri Lanka, however, retain a striking 13-6 edge in Asia Cup meetings and continue to pose a serious threat in shorter formats.
The next chapter arrives quickly: three T20Is beginning 9 October 2026, Pakistan-Sri Lanka matches in the ODI tri-series later that month, and two World Test Championship Tests in November.
