The wait is over as the Pakistan tour of Sri Lanka is set to get underway on Wednesday as the two sides will collide in a riveting battle before the T20 World Cup 2026. The 3-match series provides a great chance for both teams to test their team combination before the marquee event next month.
Pakistan recently defeated Sri Lanka in the tri-series tournament, also featuring Zimbabwe, and the Salman Ali-Agha-led side will be oozing with confidence before the contest. With the first T20I scheduled in Dambulla on Wednesday, we take a look at the various parameters to decide the probable winner of the match.
PAK vs SL current form (last 5 T20Is)
Teams
Form
Pakistan
W, W, W, L, W
Sri Lanka
L, L, W, W, L
PAK vs SL: Key Player Battles
Sahibzada Farhan vs Chameera
Criterion
Data
Matches
17
Runs
135
Outs
7
Strike rate
140.6
(Sahibzada Farhan vs right-arm quicks)
While Pakistan's opening batter, Sahibzada Farhan, has scored truckloads of runs against right-arm quicks, he has also been dismissed seven times against them in just 17 innings, and hence, the batter needs to be wary about Dushmantha Chameera, who is quick and can trouble the Pakistan star.
Salman Agha vs Wanindu Hasaranga
Criterion
Data
Matches
21
Runs
143
Outs
6
Strike rate
116.3
(Agha Salman vs right-arm leg spin)
Sri Lanka has one of the best T20I spinners in their ranks in Wanindu Hasaranga, and the wily bowler could trouble Pakistan captain, Agha Salman, who has dismsal record against leg-spin. In 21 T20I matches, he has scored just 143 runs and has been dismissed 6 times with a strike rate of 116.3 by a leg-break bowler in T20Is.
Pathum Nissanka vs Shadab Khan
Criterion
Data
Matches
25
Runs
235
Outs
10
Strike rate
121.1
(Nissanka vs right-arm leg break)
Sri Lanka’s Pathum Nissanka has been in stellar form, but the upcoming battle against Shadab Khan could decide his fate. The batter has struggled against right-arm legbreak bowler, and has a strike rate of just 121, having been dismissed 10 times by them.
PAK vs SL top performers (among current players)
Most runs for SL vs PAK in T20Is (current players)
The Dambulla surface is likely to assist the pacers in the early going and could get slower as the game progresses.
However, since this will be a freshly laid-wicket, at-least for the first T20I, the track should remain the same for the entirety of 40 overs, and hence, the toss winning captain is likely to bat second in the first game.
PAK vs SL Match Winner Prediction: Who will win the 1st T20I?
In the last 10 matches, Sri Lanka has had the upper hand, but in the last few games, Pakistan has dominated and they also thrashed the Lankan Lions to clinch the tri-nation trophy. The Men in Green are in better form and will start as slight favourites despite Sri Lanka playing the game on their home turf.
![PAK Vs SL match prediction [Source: AFP Photo]](https://onecricketnews.akamaized.net/parth-editor/oc-dashboard/news-images-prod/1767691580917_PAKVsSLmatchprediction.jpg?type=hq)
PAK Vs SL match prediction [Source: AFP Photo].jpg)
