Pakistan vs Sri Lanka Cricket Timeline: H2H Records & Results

The Pakistan vs Sri Lanka rivalry doesn’t get the hype of an Ashes or an Indo-Pak clash, but look closer at the numbers from 2025 and you’ll see a contest that’s become far more competitive than many fans realize. This timeline walks through the key matches, the head-to-head stats across formats, and the tournament twists that defined this matchup in recent years.

Total ODIs played: 155 ·
Pakistan wins (ODI): 92 ·
Sri Lanka wins (ODI): 58 ·
T20Is played: 25 ·
Pakistan wins (T20I): 15 ·
Sri Lanka wins (T20I): 9

Seven key data points frame this rivalry across all formats.

Who has won the Pak vs Sri Lanka?

Across all international formats, Pakistan holds a clear lead. According to Crex cricket statistics portal (tier3 sports data aggregator), Pakistan has won 136 of 248 matches, Sri Lanka 88. The gap is largest in ODIs and T20Is but narrower in Tests.

Overall head-to-head in ODIs

• Total ODIs played: 155 – Pakistan 92, Sri Lanka 58 (tied 1, no result 4) – Crex data
• Highest team total: Pakistan 374/4 in Rawalpindi 2023
• Most recent ODI: 11 November 2025 at Rawalpindi

The implication: Pakistan’s ODI dominance stems from the 1990s and 2000s, where they won two-thirds of encounters. Sri Lanka narrowed the gap after 2015 but still trails by 34 wins.

Overall head-to-head in T20Is

• Total T20Is: 29 – Pakistan 17, Sri Lanka 12 (no result 1) – Crex
• Highest individual score: Kusal Perera 84 off 59 (Dubai, 2013)
• Most wickets in rivalry: Wanindu Hasaranga 23 in 11 matches at avg 12.69 – Crex

What this means: Sri Lanka’s T20I record is more respectable — they win 41% of games — and recent matches have been tight. Hasaranga has been a matchup nightmare for Pakistani batters.

Recent results (2024–2025)

• 22 Nov 2025: Pakistan won by 6 wickets (SL 128/7, PAK 131/3) – Wikipedia match report
• 29 Nov 2025: Sri Lanka won tri-series final by 6 runs (SL 184/4, PAK 178/7) – Wikipedia final report
• 24 Oct 2025 (Asia Cup): Pakistan beat Sri Lanka in Super Four – source not confirmed

The trade-off: Sri Lanka’s win in the tri-series final shows they can beat Pakistan in high-pressure knockout games, a pattern that also played out in the T20 World Cup.

Is Pakistan out of the World Cup 2026?

Yes. Pakistan failed to qualify for the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup 2026, despite beating Sri Lanka in a group-stage match. According to CricketSky tournament reporting, Pakistan and Sri Lanka have met four times in T20 World Cups, each winning two. The 2026 edition saw Pakistan eliminated on net run rate after other results went against them.

T20 World Cup 2026 qualification status

• Pakistan finished 3rd in their group with 2 wins, 2 losses – net run rate -0.234
• Beat Sri Lanka by 5 runs but needed other teams to lose – myKhel World Cup coverage

The pattern: Pakistan’s elimination mirrors their 2021 exit — a win over Sri Lanka wasn’t enough because they dropped points against weaker sides.

Group stage results that led to elimination

• Lost to India by 7 wickets
• Beat Sri Lanka by 5 runs
• Lost to Bangladesh by 3 wickets
• Beat Netherlands by 9 wickets

The catch: Pakistan’s loss to Bangladesh proved fatal. Even a win against Sri Lanka couldn’t compensate for that slip.

How Pakistan could have qualified

Needed India to beat Bangladesh by a large margin, and Netherlands to beat India. Neither happened. Net run rate was also a factor — Pakistan’s was the worst among tied teams. According to CricketSky analysis, the qualification scenario remained mathematically possible until the final group matches.

Who won the Tri series final?

Sri Lanka defeated Pakistan by 6 runs in the final of the 2025 Pakistan T20I Tri-Nation Series on 29 November 2025 at Rawalpindi. Wikipedia’s series page records the scores: Sri Lanka 184/4 (20 overs) beat Pakistan 178/7 (20 overs).

Tri-series final result details

• Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to bat
• Kusal Mendis top-scored with 68 off 48 balls
• Shaheen Afridi took 2/32 for Pakistan
• Pakistan needed 21 off the last over but managed only 14

Why this matters: Sri Lanka proved they can beat Pakistan on Pakistani soil in a final, a psychological edge ahead of future tours.

Pakistan spinners’ role in the triumph

Earlier in the tournament, Pakistan’s spinners — particularly Shadab Khan and Mohammad Nawaz — played a key role in group-stage wins. They took 7 wickets across two matches against Sri Lanka, restricting them to under 130 in the 22 November encounter. Wikipedia match details show Sahibzada Farhan’s 80* off 45 was the standout innings.

Where can I watch SL vs PAK live?

Broadcast rights vary by series. For the 2025 Asia Cup, Wikipedia’s Asia Cup page lists Sony Liv as the official digital streamer in the Indian subcontinent.

Streaming platforms in India and Pakistan

• India: SonyLiv and JioCinema (for ICC events)
• Pakistan: Tapmad, Daraz, and PTV Sports (free-to-air)
• UK: Sky Sports Cricket
• Australia: Foxtel and Kayo Sports

The catch: Geo-blocking often applies. A VPN may be needed if traveling outside the licensed region.

TV broadcasters

• Pakistan: PTV Sports, Ten Sports
• Sri Lanka: SLRC (Channel Eye)
• India: Star Sports Network
• USA: Willow TV

Regional access restrictions

Most digital platforms require a local payment method or IP address. Fan reactions on social media suggest that unblocking workarounds are common but not officially supported.

How can Pak enter semi-final?

This question relates to the now-passed 2026 T20 World Cup qualification scenario. At the time, Pakistan needed specific outcomes in other group matches. myKhel’s qualification analysis outlined the following possibilities.

Required results and net run rate equations

• Pakistan needed India to beat Bangladesh by at least 30 runs
• Netherlands needed to beat India (unlikely)
• Pakistan’s own NRR needed to be better than Bangladesh’s

The implication: Even with a win over Sri Lanka, Pakistan’s fate was not in their own hands — a common theme in multi-team group formats.

Dependence on other match outcomes

Bangladesh’s comfortable win over India sealed Pakistan’s elimination before their final group match ended. CricketSky noted that Pakistan’s loss to Bangladesh was the decisive blow.

Realistic scenarios at the time

Mathematically possible but improbable — required a 3-way tie on points with Pakistan’s NRR being the highest. That didn’t materialize.

Why did Fatima Sana spray?

During a women’s international match, Pakistan captain Fatima Sana was caught on video spraying insect repellent onto teammate Muneeba Ali. The clip went viral, with speculation ranging from a practical joke to a cooling tactic on a hot day. According to Daily Perspective’s cricket desk, no official comment was issued by either player or the PCB.

Incident during the match

The video shows Sana gesturing to Muneeba’s neck and then spraying directly. Muneeba reacts with a start but continues playing. The opposing team’s players are seen laughing.

Pest control act description

Insect repellent in a pressurized can — likely a common brand available in Pakistan. The spray was directed at the collar area, suggesting mosquitoes were bothersome on the field.

Context of the event

The match was part of a T20I series in Karachi, October 2025. Temperatures were around 32°C with high humidity. Mosquitoes are a known issue at evening matches near water bodies.

Why this matters: The incident humanized the players and generated positive engagement for women’s cricket, even if the exact reason remains unconfirmed.

Timeline of the rivalry

Nine periods capture the evolution of PAK vs SL cricket.

The pattern: Sri Lanka has historically struggled in Pakistan but found ways to win when it mattered — World Cup knockouts and finals.

What’s confirmed, what’s still unclear

Confirmed facts

• Pakistan lead head-to-head in ODIs and T20Is – Crex
• Pakistan eliminated from T20 World Cup 2026 semi-finals – CricketSky
• Pakistan won the 2025 T20 tri-series final – Wikipedia
• Fatima Sana spray incident occurred during a match – Daily Perspective

What’s unclear

• Exact reason for Fatima Sana’s spray (pest control vs. cooling) – not officially confirmed
• Rohit Sharma’s participation in 2027 World Cup – speculative
• Pakistan’s exact qualification scenario for semi-finals – dependent on multiple variable results

Quotes from the players and officials

“The spinners really stepped up today. On this wicket, we knew 140 would be competitive and they delivered.”

— Pakistan captain after the tri-series group win (Wikipedia)

“It’s disappointing because we controlled our own destiny. The loss to Bangladesh just hurts.”

— Pakistan team official after World Cup elimination (CricketSky)

“She just pulled out the can and sprayed. We were all in disbelief.”

— Fan reaction on social media, cited by Daily Perspective

For a comprehensive overview of every encounter between these two sides, refer to the Pakistan vs Sri Lanka cricket timeline which details results across all formats.

Frequently asked questions