Pakistan and Sri Lanka will meet at least ten times in a single calendar year.
The Pakistan vs Sri Lanka 2026 match schedule is unusually busy, with games in Dambulla, Rawalpindi, and Lahore. It covers T20Is, ODIs, and Tests, and most of it still lies ahead.
This guide gathers every date and venue in one place. It also shows when each match starts, so you do not wake up after the toss.
Every Pakistan v Sri Lanka Meeting in 2026
Start with the big picture. Counting the January T20Is, the two teams share the field on ten scheduled dates, or eleven if both reach the tri-series final.
| Series | Matches | Dates (2026) | Venue |
| T20Is in Sri Lanka | 3 | 7, 9, 11 January | Dambulla |
| T20Is in Pakistan | 3 | 9, 11, 13 October | Rawalpindi |
| Tri-series league | 2 | 18 and 27 October | Rawalpindi, Lahore |
| Tri-series final | 1 (if both qualify) | 31 October | Lahore |
| Tests | 2 | 9 to 13 and 17 to 21 November | Rawalpindi, Lahore |
The tri-series also includes England, so Pakistan and Sri Lanka meet only twice there. A final between them is possible but not certain.
Another game in Islamabad, a three-day match from 4 to 6 November, is not a clash between the two national sides. Sri Lanka plays the Pakistan Cricket Board Patron’s XI that week.
The January T20Is in Dambulla
The year opened with a short series in Sri Lanka. Pakistan travelled for three T20Is, played as preparation for the T20 World Cup.
- 7 January: 1st T20I, Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium
- 9 January: 2nd T20I, same venue
- 11 January: 3rd T20I, same venue
All three games started at 7:00 pm local time, which is 1:30 pm GMT. Nothing moved between grounds, so the series was easy to follow.
That series is behind us now. It still belongs on the list, because the two teams know each other well heading into the October games.
The October T20I Series
Now the roles flip. Sri Lanka travels to Pakistan, and the home team gets its turn to host.
All three T20Is are at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. Every game is a night match.
| Match | Date | Day | Start (PKT) |
| 1st T20I | 9 October | Friday | 8:00 pm |
| 2nd T20I | 11 October | Sunday | 8:00 pm |
| 3rd T20I | 13 October | Tuesday | 8:00 pm |
Sri Lanka’s squad arrived on 4 October, so it will have five days to settle. The series is only three matches long, which means a single loss matters.
Weekend viewers get one night game on Sunday. The Friday and Tuesday matches suit fans who can stay up late.
Two ODI Meetings in the Tri-Series
Between the T20Is and the Tests, England joins the programme for an ODI tri-series. Each team plays the other two sides twice.
That gives Pakistan and Sri Lanka two league meetings, one in each city.
- 18 October: Pakistan v Sri Lanka, Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium (Sunday)
- 27 October: Pakistan v Sri Lanka, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore (Tuesday)
The first meeting opens the whole tri-series, so it sets the mood. By the second one, the table will probably show whether the stakes are high.
If both teams reach the final on 31 October at Gaddafi Stadium, you get a third ODI meeting. The final goes to the top two sides after the league stage.
Start times for the tri-series are not fully settled across sources. Cricinfo lists 9:30 am local, while some other outlets show 2:00 pm.
The Two Tests
The red-ball leg closes the programme. Both Tests are part of the ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 cycle.
| Test | Dates | Venue | Start (PKT) |
| 1st Test | 9 to 13 November | Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium | 9:30 am |
| 2nd Test | 17 to 21 November | Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore | 9:30 am |
Rawalpindi hosts first, and Lahore hosts the finale. Three days separate the two games (14, 15, and 16 November).
A two-Test series is short enough that a single collapse can swing the result. Expect both teams to treat the first morning at Rawalpindi as the most important session of the tour.
Venue Guide
Three grounds carry this whole schedule. Each has a clear role, and the lists below show who plays where.
Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium
- Hosted all three January T20Is
- Not used again in 2026 for these two teams
Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium
- Hosts the three October T20Is
- Hosts the first Pakistan v Sri Lanka ODI on 18 October
- Hosts the first Test from 9 November
Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
- Hosts the second ODI meeting on 27 October
- Hosts the tri-series final on 31 October
- Hosts the second Test from 17 November
Rawalpindi leads the count, with five of the October and November meetings between the two sides there, counting the T20Is, one ODI, and one Test. Lahore carries the closing stages of both the white-ball and red-ball legs.
Pakistan plays all of its home games in these two cities. Fans do not need to learn a long list of grounds.
Dates Month by Month
A simple calendar helps when the matches span nearly a year. Here is the list by month.
- January: three T20Is in Dambulla (7, 9, 11)
- October: three T20Is (9, 11, 13), two ODIs (18, 27), and a possible final (31)
- November: Test one (9 to 13) and Test two (17 to 21)
There is a long quiet stretch between January and October for these two teams. When October arrives, nearly everything lands within six weeks.
That compression is the real story of the schedule. Fans who follow only one format will still have to pay attention across the whole window.
Start Times Around the World
Pakistan Standard Time is UTC+5. India and Sri Lanka run half an hour ahead of Pakistan, and the United Kingdom clocks go back on 25 October.
| Match type | PKT | GMT | IST |
| October T20Is | 8:00 pm | 3:00 pm | 8:30 pm |
| Tests (Nov) | 9:30 am | 4:30 am | 10:00 am |
| ODIs (Cricinfo listing) | 9:30 am | 4:30 am | 10:00 am |
| January T20Is (Dambulla) | 7:00 pm local | 1:30 pm | 7:00 pm |
For UK readers, the T20Is begin at 4:00 pm BST. The Tests begin at 4:30 am GMT, which is early but manageable with coffee.
If the ODIs actually start at 2:00 pm PKT, the first ball comes four and a half hours later than the Cricinfo time. I would wait for the official PCB notice before locking in plans.
Why This Schedule Stands Out
Playing the same opponent in all three formats within one year is rare. It gives the two sides a deep set of data on each other.
Selectors will have seen plenty of each other’s bowlers by November. Surprises will come from conditions, not from unknown faces.
Fans get a clean storyline too. January was played in Sri Lankan conditions, and October through November tests the same two sides in Pakistan.
What to Watch Across the Series
Dates tell you when to tune in. A few simple questions tell you why.
Which format favours whom?
Sri Lanka plays Pakistan in three formats within a single year, so no side can hide behind one strength. A team that wins the T20Is in Rawalpindi may still struggle when the red ball arrives in November.
Does home advantage hold up?
Pakistan hosts nearly all of the remaining games, and Sri Lanka has to adjust quickly. The tri-series meeting on 18 October will be the first real ODI test of that.
How much do rest days matter?
Pakistan and Sri Lanka both play on 18 and 27 October, and each has a few quiet days around those dates. Teams that rotate wisely in the T20Is will likely look sharper in the tri-series.
I would keep an eye on the Rawalpindi to Lahore move after 22 October. Travel days are small details that often show up in the scorecards a week later.
Key Takeaways
- Total meetings: ten scheduled, eleven if both teams reach the tri-series final
- January: three T20Is in Dambulla on 7, 9, and 11 January
- October T20Is: 9, 11, and 13 October in Rawalpindi at 8:00 pm PKT
- ODIs: 18 October (Rawalpindi) and 27 October (Lahore)
- Tests: 9 to 13 November (Rawalpindi) and 17 to 21 November (Lahore)
FAQs
How many times do Pakistan and Sri Lanka play in 2026?
They play ten scheduled matches, and an eleventh is possible if both reach the tri-series final.
Which venues host the Pakistan vs Sri Lanka Tests?
The first Test is at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium and the second is at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.
When do the two teams play their first ODI of the tri-series?
They meet on Sunday, 18 October at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.
What time do the October T20Is start?
Each T20I starts at 8:00 pm Pakistan time, which is 3:00 pm GMT.
Where were the January T20Is played?
All three were played at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium.
Conclusion
The Pakistan vs Sri Lanka 2026 match schedule gives fans three formats, three venues, and a very busy autumn. The dates to circle are 9 October for the T20Is, 18 October for the first ODI, and 9 November for the first Test.
