Sri Lanka could play eight matches in Pakistan this month, and the squad is already on the ground.
The Sri Lanka cricket team is on a long tour of Pakistan that runs from October 9 to November 21. It includes T20Is, a three-team ODI series with England and two Tests. This guide covers every October fixture, the squad and the key facts. All information is accurate as of October 6, 2026.
Sri Lanka Cricket confirmed the plan in a statement on September 10. The squad left for Pakistan on October 4.
Sri Lanka Cricket Fixtures at a Glance
October is split into two parts for Sri Lanka. The first part is a three-match T20I series, and the second is the tri-series.
| Event | Dates | Format | Venue |
| Sri Lanka vs Pakistan | Oct 9 to 13 | 3 T20Is | Rawalpindi |
| Tri-series with Pakistan and England | Oct 18 to 31 | ODIs | Rawalpindi and Lahore |
| Sri Lanka vs Pakistan | Nov 9 to 21 | 2 Tests | Rawalpindi and Lahore |
The Test series starts in November. It is listed here because it is part of the same tour.
Sri Lanka Before the Pakistan Tour
Sri Lanka reaches Pakistan after a short tour of England. The team lost the T20I series 3-0 there.
The one-day side performed better. Kusal Mendis scored 198 runs in three ODIs, with a best of 121 in the second match. Asitha Fernando took seven wickets to top the bowling charts.
Some players were also busy at the Asian Games. Sahan Arachchige, Sineth Jayawardena and Vijayakanth Viyaskanth played in a bronze medal match against Bangladesh on October 3.
All three are also in the T20I squad. That left only a short break before the tour began.
Sri Lanka vs Pakistan T20I Schedule
The three T20Is are all played in Rawalpindi. There is one rest day between each match.
| Match | Date | Day | Venue |
| 1st T20I | Oct 9 | Friday | Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium |
| 2nd T20I | Oct 11 | Sunday | Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium |
| 3rd T20I | Oct 13 | Tuesday | Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium |
The listings show an 8:30 PM IST start. That is 8:00 PM in Pakistan and 8:30 PM in Sri Lanka.
The T20I series is the first leg of a demanding tour. It sets the tone for the ODIs and Tests that follow.
Sri Lanka T20I Squad for Pakistan
Sri Lanka named a 15-player squad on October 2. Kusal Mendis leads the team.
| Role | Players |
| Captain | Kusal Mendis |
| Batters | Kamil Mishara, Sineth Jayawardena, Lahiru Udara, Sahan Arachchige, Chamindu Wickramasinghe |
| All-rounders | Kamindu Mendis, Dasun Shanaka |
| Spinners | Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth |
| Pace bowlers | Dushmantha Chameera, Binura Fernando, Nuwan Thushara, Eshan Malinga |
Role labels are a simple guide. Some players can fill more than one role.
The big news is who is missing. Pathum Nissanka and Wanindu Hasaranga are out with injuries.
Mendis takes over the captaincy from Charith Asalanka. The squad has six changes from the side that lost in England.
Sineth Jayawardena is 21 years old and earned his first T20I call-up. Chamindu Wickramasinghe has only three caps, so this tour is a major chance for him.
Sri Lanka Players to Watch
Several names stand out in the T20I squad. Each one brings a different skill to the tour.
Kusal Mendis is the leader and the most proven batter in the group. His ODI form in England shows that he enters the tour in good touch.
Kamindu Mendis is a flexible all-rounder who can bat in the middle order. Dasun Shanaka adds experience and big hitting at the end of an innings.
Dunith Wellalage and Maheesh Theekshana give the side two quality spin options. Spin can matter late in a match, so they could be key.
Dushmantha Chameera leads the pace group, with Binura Fernando, Nuwan Thushara and Eshan Malinga in support.
Week-by-Week Calendar for Sri Lanka
A weekly view makes the long tour easier to follow. Sri Lanka has one busy opening week and a steady second half.
In the first week, Sri Lanka plays on October 9 and 11. The third T20I follows on October 13.
In the second week, the team rests after the T20Is. It then plays Pakistan on October 18, which is a Sunday.
The third week brings the England game on October 22. The final week has three dates: October 27 against Pakistan, October 29 against England and October 31 for the final if Sri Lanka qualifies.
Challenges Sri Lanka Faces on This Tour
The first challenge is the quick change of format. Sri Lanka moves from T20 cricket to ODIs and then to Tests in six weeks.
The second challenge is injuries. Losing Nissanka and Hasaranga removes an opening batter and a spin-bowling all-rounder from the T20I plan.
The third challenge is travel. The team has to move between Rawalpindi and Lahore during the tri-series. A mix of home crowds and tight schedules can wear down a visiting group.
Still, Sri Lanka has reasons for hope. The batters have recent form, and the bowling group has a good blend of pace and spin.
Why the Pakistan Tour Matters
This tour is more than a set of fixtures. It is a chance to build a squad for the 2027 ODI World Cup.
The Test series also matters for the World Test Championship table. Every point counts in a short cycle.
For Sri Lankan fans, the tour is a rare chance to see their team play three formats on one trip. The schedule has something for every type of cricket fan.
Sri Lanka’s Tri-Series Schedule
The tri-series features Pakistan, Sri Lanka and England. Each team plays the others twice, and the top two meet in the final.
Sri Lanka plays four league games. Here is the full list.
| Match | Date | Fixture | Venue |
| 1st match | Oct 18 | Pakistan vs Sri Lanka | Rawalpindi |
| 3rd match | Oct 22 | Sri Lanka vs England | Rawalpindi |
| 5th match | Oct 27 | Pakistan vs Sri Lanka | Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore |
| 6th match | Oct 29 | Sri Lanka vs England | Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore |
| Final | Oct 31 | Top two teams | Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore |
The other tri-series games are Pakistan vs England on October 20 and 25. Sri Lanka does not play in those matches.
Sri Lanka opens the series against Pakistan on October 18. It then waits four days before facing England.
The squad for the ODIs had not been announced when this article was written. Expect it to be named closer to October 18.
How Sri Lanka Can Reach the Final
Every team in the tri-series plays four league matches. Points decide who goes through, so each win counts.
Sri Lanka needs strong results against both Pakistan and England. The exact tie-break rules were not listed in the sources reviewed.
The final is on October 31 in Lahore. If Sri Lanka qualifies, it will play eight matches in Pakistan during October.
Sri Lanka has a gap from October 14 to 17, and another from October 23 to 26. That gives the squad time to rest and train.
Sri Lanka’s Test Schedule in Pakistan
After the white-ball games, Sri Lanka plays two Tests. Both are part of the 2025-27 World Test Championship cycle.
| Match | Start date | Venue |
| 1st Test | Nov 9 | Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium |
| 2nd Test | Nov 17 | Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore |
The tour ends on November 21. The Test squad had not been named when this article was written.
Sri Lanka last toured Pakistan for Tests in 2019. It lost that two-match series 1-0.
Sri Lanka’s Record in Pakistan
The 2019 tour is the most recent comparison. Sri Lanka lost the Tests 1-0 but won the T20I series 3-0.
That tour came with heavy security concerns, and several senior players chose not to travel. This time, the schedule covers several weeks and all three formats.
The current tour is also a sign of growing ties between the two boards. Sri Lanka Cricket agreed to tour as part of its future tours plan.
What Comes Next After Pakistan
Once the Pakistan tour ends on November 21, Sri Lanka looks ahead to a trip to New Zealand. The tour begins in January 2027.
| Match | Date | Venue |
| 1st ODI | Jan 16 | McLean Park, Napier |
| 2nd ODI | Jan 19 | Basin Reserve, Wellington |
| 3rd ODI | Jan 22 | University of Otago Oval, Dunedin |
| 1st T20I | Jan 26 | Hagley Oval, Christchurch |
| 2nd T20I | Jan 29 | Saxton Oval, Nelson |
| 3rd T20I | Jan 31 | Saxton Oval, Nelson |
| 1st Test | Feb 4 to 8 | Bay Oval, Tauranga |
| 2nd Test | Feb 12 to 16 | Seddon Park, Hamilton |
The New Zealand tour will test Sri Lanka in very different conditions. Expect cooler weather and more seam movement than in Pakistan.
Tips for Following the Series
Fans in Sri Lanka should check the official Sri Lanka Cricket website for broadcast details. Sri Lanka and India share a time zone, and both are 30 minutes ahead of Pakistan.
The T20Is begin in the evening, so most fans can watch after work. Tri-series start times had not been confirmed in the listings reviewed.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does Sri Lanka play its first match in Pakistan? Sri Lanka plays the first T20I on October 9 at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.
Who captains Sri Lanka in the T20I series? Kusal Mendis captains the 15-player squad.
How many league matches does Sri Lanka play in the tri-series? Sri Lanka plays four league matches, two against Pakistan and two against England.
When is the tri-series final? The final is on October 31 at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.
When do the Sri Lanka vs Pakistan Tests begin? The first Test starts on November 9 and the second starts on November 17.
Conclusion
Sri Lanka faces a demanding month in Pakistan. A T20I series, a tri-series and two Tests make for a long tour.
The squad has lost two key players, but it also has fresh talent and a returning captain. How the team handles the conditions will shape its confidence for the rest of the season.