The Sri Lanka National Cricket Team Vs Pakistan National Cricket Team Timeline is packed with memorable matches, dramatic finishes, legendary performances, and plenty of twists. From their first Test meeting in 1982 to major ODI and T20 encounters, both teams have faced each other across different eras of international cricket. Some games have been one-sided, while others have gone down to the final overs, making this rivalry interesting for fans of both sides.
Over the years, players from Sri Lanka and Pakistan have created many unforgettable moments in World Cups, bilateral series, and other international competitions. From historic victories to closely fought contests, their meetings offer a fascinating look at how this cricket rivalry has developed over time.
A Quick Look at the Rivalry
Pakistan and Sri Lanka first met in Test cricket in March 1982. Since then, they’ve built one of Asian cricket’s most competitive rivalries. Pakistan generally holds the edge in white-ball cricket, while Tests have been closer, with a huge chunk ending in draws. But scorelines rarely tell the full story. This rivalry has produced World Cup upsets, last-ball finishes, and some genuinely great individual performances.
Here’s the full Sri Lanka National Cricket Team Vs Pakistan National Cricket Team Standings across formats, based on the latest available records.
Overall Head-to-Head Standings (as of September 2026)
| Format | Matches Played | Pakistan Won | Sri Lanka Won | Draws/No Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Test | 59 | 23 | 17 | 19 Drawn |
| ODI | 158 | 95 | 59 | 4 (Tied/NR) |
| T20I | 33 | 20 | 13 | 0 |
Disclaimer: All match details, scores, and stats here come from verified sources such as ESPNcricinfo and ICC records. Cricket results can shift with new series, so treat this as a snapshot accurate to September 2026.
Pakistan lead in ODIs and T20Is, but Tests remain the most balanced format between the two sides, thanks to Sri Lanka’s spin-friendly home tracks in Galle and Colombo troubling Pakistan’s batters for years.
How It All Began: The Early Years (1980s–1990s)
The sri lanka national cricket team vs pakistan national cricket team timeline began taking shape in the 1980s, after Sri Lanka gained Test status in 1982. Their first Test meeting came in March that year, with Pakistan’s experienced pace attack making a strong impression during the early encounters. Since Sri Lanka were still developing as a Test side, the initial meetings were largely dominated by Pakistan.
The rivalry became more competitive during the 1990s as Sri Lanka established itself as a major force in international cricket. Arjuna Ranatunga’s leadership and Sanath Jayasuriya’s aggressive batting helped transform Sri Lanka’s approach, particularly in limited-overs cricket.
Sri Lanka’s 1996 World Cup triumph further cemented their place among cricket’s leading teams, although Pakistan were not their quarter-final opponent in that tournament. Around the same period, Muttiah Muralitharan emerged as one of Sri Lanka’s most influential bowlers, adding another major dimension to contests against Pakistan.
Rivalry: Key Players And Memorable Performances (Era-Wise Till 2026)
Every era of the Sri Lanka National Cricket Team Vs Pakistan National Cricket Team rivalry has had its own set of match-winners. Here’s a quick breakdown.
1980s–1990s: Imran Khan and Javed Miandad were the backbone of Pakistan’s dominance, while Arjuna Ranatunga and Aravinda de Silva led Sri Lanka’s rise into a genuine competitive force, backed by Sri Lanka’s 1996 World Cup triumph overall.
2000s: Muttiah Muralitharan became the single biggest threat to Pakistan across formats, picking up wickets in bunches on turning tracks. On Pakistan’s side, Shoaib Akhtar and later Shahid Afridi provided the fireworks, with Pakistan winning the 2009 T20 World Cup final against Sri Lanka at Lord’s.
2010s: Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene gave Sri Lanka batting stability, while Misbah-ul-Haq anchored Pakistan’s middle order, including a match-winning century in the tense 2014 Asia Cup final against Sri Lanka.
2020s (till 2026): Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan became Pakistan’s most consistent modern-day pair, headlined by their record-breaking World Cup chase in 2023. Wanindu Hasaranga emerged as Sri Lanka’s biggest all-format threat, and Dasun Shanaka’s blistering finish in the 2026 T20 World Cup Super Eight clash remains one of the most talked-about knocks of the tournament.
ICC Matches Between Teams
World Cups, Champions Trophy and T20 World Cups are where this rivalry really comes alive. Here’s how these two sides have fared across ICC events.
ODI ICC World Cup
| Year | Venue | Result | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | Trent Bridge, Nottingham | Pakistan won | 192 runs |
| 1983 (Match 1) | Headingley, Leeds | Pakistan won | 50 runs |
| 1983 (Match 2) | Trent Bridge, Nottingham | Pakistan won | Imran Khan’s 102* sealed the win |
| 1987 (Match 1) | Karachi/Lahore | Pakistan won | 15 runs |
| 1987 (Match 2) | Karachi/Lahore | Pakistan won | 113 runs |
| 1992 | Perth | Pakistan won | 4 wickets |
| 2011 | R. Premadasa, Colombo | Pakistan won | 11 runs |
| 2023 | Hyderabad | Pakistan won | 6 wickets (record chase of 345) |
This is the standout stat of the entire Sri Lanka National Cricket Team Vs Pakistan National Cricket Team Timeline: Pakistan have won every single one of their eight meetings with Sri Lanka in ODI World Cup history, spanning 1975 to 2023, and remain unbeaten against them in the tournament to this day.
ICC T20 World Cup
| Year | Venue | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Lord’s (Final) | Pakistan won by 8 wickets |
| 2012 | Colombo (Semi-final) | Sri Lanka won by 16 runs |
| 2026 | Kandy (Super Eight) | Pakistan won by 5 runs |
The 2009 final remains Pakistan’s proudest T20 World Cup moment against Sri Lanka, while the 2026 Super Eight thriller where Dasun Shanaka smashed three sixes in the final over but still fell short is already being called one of the best T20 World Cup finishes of the decade.
ICC Champions Trophy
| Year | Venue | Result | Key Performer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Nairobi | Group stage meeting | — |
| 2002 | R. Premadasa, Colombo | Sri Lanka won by 8 wickets | Sanath Jayasuriya |
| 2006 | Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur | Pakistan won by 4 wickets | Abdul Razzaq (bat & ball) |
| 2017 | Cardiff | Pakistan won by 3 wickets | Sarfaraz Ahmed (61*) |
Pakistan have generally had the better of this fixture in the Champions Trophy too, apart from Sri Lanka’s home win in 2002, and the two sides have never met on English soil in this tournament outside of the 2017 Cardiff group match.
Full Test Series Timeline
Beyond the white-ball events, Test series between these two sides have swung back and forth for over four decades. Here’s the complete series-by-series record.
| Series | Year | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Sri Lanka in Pakistan | 1991/92 | Pakistan won 1-0 (3 Tests) |
| Pakistan in Sri Lanka | 1994 | Pakistan won 2-0 (2 Tests) |
| Sri Lanka in Pakistan | 1995/96 | Sri Lanka won 2-1 (3 Tests) |
| Pakistan in Sri Lanka | 2005/06 | Pakistan won 1-0 (2 Tests) |
| Sri Lanka in Pakistan | 2008/09 | Drawn 0-0 (2 Tests) |
| Pakistan in Sri Lanka | 2009 | Sri Lanka won 2-0 (3 Tests) |
| Pakistan v Sri Lanka (UAE) | 2011/12 | Pakistan won 1-0 (3 Tests) |
| Pakistan in Sri Lanka | 2012 | Sri Lanka won 1-0 (3 Tests) |
| Pakistan v Sri Lanka (UAE) | 2013/14 | Drawn 1-1 (3 Tests) |
| Pakistan in Sri Lanka | 2014 | Sri Lanka won 2-0 (2 Tests) |
| Pakistan in Sri Lanka | 2015 | Pakistan won 2-1 (3 Tests) |
| Pakistan v Sri Lanka (UAE) | 2017/18 | Sri Lanka won 2-0 (2 Tests) |
| Sri Lanka in Pakistan | 2019/20 | Pakistan won 1-0 (2 Tests) |
| Pakistan in Sri Lanka | 2022 | Drawn 1-1 (2 Tests) |
| Pakistan in Sri Lanka | 2023 | Pakistan won 2-0 (2 Tests) |
Out of the last six series alone, the two sides have split results almost evenly, which is exactly why Test cricket remains the most unpredictable format in this rivalry, unlike the one-sided ODI World Cup ledger above.
Recent Form: Sri Lanka National Cricket Team Vs Pakistan National Cricket Team Matches (2025–2026)
This rivalry has been especially busy over the last 18 months, giving us a fresh look at the current Sri Lanka National Cricket Team Vs Pakistan National Cricket Team Match Scorecard trend.
| Date | Format | Venue | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 23, 2025 | ODI (Asia Cup, Super Four) | Abu Dhabi | Pakistan won by 5 wickets |
| Nov 11, 2025 | ODI | Rawalpindi | Pakistan won by 6 runs |
| Nov 16, 2025 | ODI (Series) | Pakistan | Pakistan won series 3-0 |
| Nov 22, 2025 | T20I | Pakistan | Pakistan won by 7 wickets |
| Nov 27, 2025 | T20I | Pakistan | Sri Lanka won by 6 runs |
| Nov 29, 2025 | T20I (Tri-Series Final) | Rawalpindi | Pakistan won by 6 wickets |
| Jan 7, 2026 | T20I | Dambulla | Pakistan won by 6 wickets |
| Jan 11, 2026 | T20I | Dambulla | Sri Lanka won by 14 runs |
| Feb 28, 2026 | T20I (T20 World Cup, Super Eight) | Kandy | Pakistan won by 5 runs |
Notice the pattern? Neither side has been able to string together dominant momentum. That’s exactly what makes the Sri Lanka National Cricket Team Vs Pakistan National Cricket Team contest so fun to follow every series feels genuinely up for grabs.
Records Worth Knowing
Fans searching for Sri Lanka National Cricket Team Vs Pakistan National Cricket Team Stats usually want the extremes the lowest scores and the biggest wins. Here they are.
Lowest Totals in an Innings
| Team | Score | Format | Venue | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sri Lanka | 102 | ODI | UAE | 2013/14 |
| Pakistan | 103 | ODI | Sri Lanka | 2014 |
| Sri Lanka | 114 | T20I | Rawalpindi | 2025 |
| Pakistan | 129/4 (chased low SL total) | T20I | Dambulla | 2026 |
| Sri Lanka | 128 all out | T20I | Dambulla | 2026 |
Greatest Wins (Margin-Based)
| Team | Margin | Format | Venue | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pakistan | 263 runs | Test | Karachi | 2019 |
| Sri Lanka | 246 runs | Test | Galle | 2022 |
| Pakistan | 192 runs | ODI (World Cup) | Nottingham | 1975 |
| Pakistan | Innings & 222 runs | Test | Colombo | 2023 |
| Sri Lanka | 165 runs | ODI | Hambantota | 2015 |
Current Squads and Key Players
When you look up Sri Lanka National Cricket Team Vs Pakistan National Cricket Team Players heading into 2026, a few names stand out on both sides.
Pakistan: Mohammad Rizwan, Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Salman Ali Agha (captain across formats in 2026), Haris Rauf, and Abrar Ahmed have all played key roles recently.
Sri Lanka: Wanindu Hasaranga, Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Dasun Shanaka, Dushmantha Chameera, and Kamindu Mendis have been Sri Lanka’s most consistent performers in this period.
Both squads have blended experienced campaigners with younger players stepping into bigger roles, which is part of why recent results have swung so unpredictably between the two sides.
Where To Watch Sri Lanka National Cricket Team Vs Pakistan National Cricket Team
Matches between these two sides are usually broadcast on regional sports networks depending on where you live. In Pakistan, PTV Sports and A Sports typically carry the games. In Sri Lanka, matches air on Sri Lanka Rupavahini and ThePapare’s digital platforms. For fans elsewhere, the official ICC website and ESPNcricinfo offer ball-by-ball commentary, live scores, and streaming details for every series, along with the most current Sri Lanka National Cricket Team Vs Pakistan National Cricket Team Standings.
Expert Opinion
Cricket analysts tracking this rivalry generally agree on one thing: numbers alone don’t capture how competitive it’s become. As one veteran commentator put it while reviewing the 2026 T20 World Cup Super Eight game, “Sri Lanka played the better cricket for 39 of 40 overs, and it still wasn’t enough.” That’s the theme of this fixture in recent years small margins deciding big outcomes.
Our Review
Going purely by the head-to-head numbers, Pakistan remain ahead across ODIs and T20Is, while Tests stay fairly even. But recent matches (2025–2026) show Sri Lanka closing the gap in white-ball cricket, especially in T20Is where the series have gone back and forth. If you enjoy tight finishes and unpredictable results, this is one of the more entertaining rivalries in world cricket to follow right now.
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Conclusion
The Sri Lanka National Cricket Team Vs Pakistan National Cricket Team Timeline is proof that history and form don’t always line up. Pakistan hold the bigger overall numbers and remain unbeaten against Sri Lanka in ODI World Cups, but Sri Lanka has landed enough big punches the 2012 T20 World Cup semi-final win, several Test series wins in the 2010s, and recent T20I victories to keep this a genuinely open contest. With both teams building squads around a fresh core of players, the next few years of this rivalry look set to be just as competitive as the last two decades.
FAQs
Q1. Who has won more matches overall, Pakistan or Sri Lanka?
Pakistan lead across all three formats Tests, ODIs, and T20Is as of September 2026.
Q2. Has Pakistan ever lost to Sri Lanka in an ODI World Cup?
No. Pakistan have won all eight of their ODI World Cup meetings against Sri Lanka, from 1975 through to 2023, making it their most one-sided ICC event against any regular opponent.
Q3. Who holds the record for the highest individual score in this fixture?
Multiple centuries have been scored on both sides; Mohammad Rizwan and Abdullah Shafique’s centuries in the 2023 World Cup chase remain among the most memorable recent knocks.
Q4. How did the 2026 T20 World Cup match between them go?
Pakistan won a Super Eight thriller by 5 runs in Kandy, despite Dasun Shanaka hitting three sixes in the final over for Sri Lanka.
Q5. Where can I watch upcoming Sri Lanka vs Pakistan matches?
Check the official ICC and ESPNcricinfo websites, or regional broadcasters in Pakistan and Sri Lanka, for live streaming details.
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