Sri Lanka win toss, opt to bat first against Pakistan in first T20I
Green Shirts make major changes to playing XI that featured in Asian Games final against India
Published October 09, 2026
Sri Lanka won the toss and decided to bat first in the first encounter of the three-match T20I series against Pakistan at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Friday.
Green Shirts have made major changes to the playing XI that featured in the Asian Games final against India. Muhammad Imran and Razaullah are set to make their T20I debuts for Pakistan, while experienced batter Fakhar Zaman returns to the side.
The remaining two T20I matches are scheduled to take place at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on October 11 and 13.
Playing XIs
Pakistan: Sahibzada Farhan (c), Fakhar Zaman, Maaz Sadaqat, Hasan Nawaz, Saim Ayub, Shadab Khan, Khawaja Nafay, Muhammad Imran, Razaullah, Naseem Shah and Abrar Ahmed.
Sri Lanka: Kusal Mendis (c), Lahiru Udara, Kamil Mishara, Kamindu Mendis, Sahan Arachchige, Dasun Shanaka, Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Dushmantha Chameera, Eshan Malinga and Nuwan Thushara.
After the T20I series, England will team up with Pakistan and Sri Lanka for an ODI tri-series, with matches set to be held in Rawalpindi and Lahore from October 18 to 31.
Sri Lanka will then feature in a three-day practice match in Islamabad from November 4 to 6 ahead of their two-Test series against Pakistan.
The Test matches will count towards the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2025–27. The opening Test will be played at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium from November 9 to 13, followed by the second match at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium from November 17 to 21.
