There is a strong possibility that Pakistan will tour Sri Lanka in January 2026, with discussions currently underway between the two cricket boards. If finalized, the series could see Pakistan play three T20 internationals in Colombo on January 8, 10, and 12. However, sources have indicated that the final schedule will be confirmed only after resolving certain pending matters.

This proposed series could further complicate the issue of No Objection Certificates (NOCs) for Pakistani players participating in the Big Bash League (BBL). The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had previously suspended players’ NOCs after the Asia Cup, and with a January series on the cards, several players might be forced to miss part of the Australian league.

The BBL is scheduled from December 14, 2025, to January 25, 2026, with seven Pakistani players lined up to participate. Babar Azam is set to play for the Sydney Sixers, Mohammad Rizwan and Hassan Khan for Melbourne Renegades, Shaheen Afridi for Brisbane Heat, Hasan Ali for Adelaide Strikers, Haris Rauf for Melbourne Stars, and Shadab Khan for Sydney Thunder. While Babar and Rizwan are currently not in Pakistan’s T20I setup, both could make a return ahead of the T20 World Cup. Shadab, who is recovering from injury, and Shaheen remain key figures in the national side.

ALSO SEE: BCCI commits major error, confuses Sarfaraz Khan with his brother Musheer Khan

Meanwhile, Pakistan’s immediate focus remains on their upcoming home season. They are set to host Sri Lanka for three ODIs from November 11 to 15, followed by a proposed T20 tri-series from November 17 to 29 involving Afghanistan. However, with tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan escalating, the latter’s participation is now uncertain, and PCB may need to find a replacement team.

The January tour will also serve as crucial preparation for the ICC T20 World Cup 2026, which Sri Lanka will co-host. For Pakistan, the series could provide an ideal opportunity to acclimatize to local conditions ahead of the mega event.

Pakistan produced an all-round performance to beat Sri Lanka by five wickets in their 4 clash of the Asia Cup 2025 at the Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi, on Wednesday. Chasing 134, Pakistan crossed the finish line with 12 balls to spare, riding on a match-winning stand between Hussain Talat and Mohammad Nawaz after losing early wickets.

Sri Lanka, asked to bat first, struggled to find rhythm in their innings. Shaheen Shah Afridi struck early, removing Kusal Mendis for a duck and Pathum Nissanka soon after. Kusal Perera’s brief cameo was ended by Haris Rauf, while captain Charith Asalanka and Dasun Shanaka fell in quick succession, leaving Sri Lanka in deep trouble. Kamindu Mendis offered resistance with a well-made 50 off 44 balls, but with little support apart from Wanindu Hasaranga (15) and Chamika Karunaratne (17*), Sri Lanka were restricted to 133/8 in 20 overs. Afridi starred with 3/28, Hussain Talat chipped in with two key strikes, and Abrar Ahmed’s spell of 4-0-8-0 built crucial pressure.

In reply, Pakistan started briskly with Sahibzada Farhan’s 24 off 15 balls and Fakhar Zaman’s 17, but both fell to Maheesh Theekshana in the Powerplay. Hasaranga’s double strike then reduced Pakistan to 57/4, raising Sri Lanka’s hopes. However, Hussain Talat (32 off 30) and Mohammad Nawaz (38* off 24) steadied the chase with a 58-run partnership. Nawaz’s clean hitting in the final overs sealed victory, as Pakistan reached 138/5 in 18 overs.

SL vs PAK: Who Said What?

Hussain Talat (Player of the Match):

It is difficult as it is hot. The conditions were not easy. I took my time. The conditions don't allow you to go full fledged even if you want to play aggressive cricket. The captain and coach talked to me. The plan was go to and attack. But I backed my gut feeling. I wanted to take some time and then felt the boundaries will come. There was a lot of humidity. My energy was low. At the end, we decided he will go for the big shots. I was working on my bowling quite a lot with my bowling coach. I had to back my plan B. If I bowl two good overs, I knew my team will benefit.

See Also: Asia Cup 2025: IND vs BAN Dream11 Prediction Super Four 4th Match Fantasy Cricket Tips, Probable Playing XI

Salman Agha (Pakistan Captain):

I always smile. Can't say it is a perfect game. We lost four wickets in 3 overs. Apart from that, it was a perfect game. We need to stop these. Our fielding coach has been working really hard with him. We have named him Rockstar. Our players have been doing extra on the field. Shaheen has been bowling really well. He is an asset for us. He is a match-winner. We play so many all-rounders as the game nowadays demands that. I know Talat for several years. Really happy for him. Nawaz as a batter has so much potential. Hope both can continue. Abrar has been bowling well. Whenever we are in a difficult situation, I go to him. Hope he can continue like this for many more seasons for Pakistan.

Charith Asalanka (Sri Lanka Captain):

If you lose 5 wickets before the 10th over, it will be hard. The surface was good. They bowled and fielded really well in the first 8-9 overs. We just scored 133. But we didn't give up and fought really hard. Hasaranga is a super star in white ball cricket.

Sri Lanka faced off against Pakistan during Match 3 of the Super 4 stage of the Asia Cup 2025 in Abu Dhabi. Batting first, Sri Lanka had a rough start as Pakistan's bowlers got to them early on. Shaheen Afridi and Hussain Talat picked individual wickets that caused the batters to collapse in that middle order. Although Kamindu Mendis made a valiant effort with a fifty, Sri Lanka could only post a score of 133/8. Although Pakistan also lost a few wickets the strong association between Hussain Talat and Mohammad Nawaz enabled a comfortable five-wicket win. Below are the main reasons for Sri Lanka:

1. Early breakthroughs by Pakistan’s bowlers

Shaheen Afridi dismissed Kusal Mendis for a golden duck and removed Pathum Nissanka dismissed early in the innings. Hussain Talat then took a wicket on the next ball when he dismissed captain Dasun Shanaka. This left Sri Lanka with considerable pressure early in the innings.

2. Sri Lanka’s middle-order collapse

With early wickets loss, Sri Lanka never recovered since their middle order just kept falling. Only Kamindu Mendis scored 50 off 44 balls, while the others fell to the Pakistani bowling attack, to leave Sri Lanka with just 133/8.

See Also: [WATCH]: Wanindu Hasaranga gives Abrar Ahmed taste of his own medicine with mocking reply in SL vs PAK Asia Cup 2025 Super 4 clash

3. Match-winning partnership in Pakistan’s chase

Pakistan lost some wickets while chasing but Hussain Talat (32) and Mohammad Nawaz (38*) built a 58-run stand. Their calm batting took the game away from Sri Lanka and sealed the win with 5 wickets in hand.

An out-and-out entertaining match between Sri Lanka and Pakistan. The match got more intense during the second innings when Pakistan went into the Dubai International Stadium pitch for chasing a target of 134 runs in 20 overs. Pakistan spinner Abrar Ahmed quickly realized how his own medicine tastes as Sri Lanka star Wanindu Hasaranga mocked him back.

The battle between Ahmad and Hasaranga took the on-field rivalry between these two countries to new heights. It was Abrar who first mocked Hasaranga during the first innings of the match, when Sri Lanka was batting. The Pakistan spinner took the wicket of the Sri Lankan all-rounder, and then out of nowhere he replicated Hasaranga's trademark celebration to mock him.

The Galle-born quietly headed back to the dressing room after scoring 15 off 13 with two boundaries. Ahmed bowled him out. In the second innings, it was Hasaranga's turn to mock the opponent player back. Hasaranga mocked Ahmed multiple times. First, when he took a one-handed catch to dismiss Fakhar Zaman, and then after taking the wicket of Pakistan skipper Salman Ali Agha, Hasaranga copied Abrar Ahmed's celebration. When Hasaranga was mocking Abrar, the focus of the camera quickly shifted to the Pakistan dugout where Ahmed was sitting; he had no choice but to see Hasaranga replicating his wicket-taking celebration.

Watch Hasaranga's reaction here

Abrar copied Hasaranga and now Hasaranga mimics Abrar, not once, but twice

Pakistan v Sri Lanka rivalry brewingpic.twitter.com/d2ADw8RGbv

— Lord Immy Kant (@KantInEastt) September 23, 2025

Read More: WATCH: Shaheen Afridi strikes in the second ball during SL vs PAK, Asia Cup 2025 Super 4 match

The rivalry between two spinner intensified Sri Lanka vs Pakistan Asia and 2025 match

Abrar smiled a little to ease down the situation. In the first innings, Abrar Ahmed bowled brilliantly against Sri Lanka. In his 4-over spell, the spinner claimed one wicket against only 8 runs, which made his economy rate 2.00. 

In the second innings, Hasaranga claimed 2 wickets in his 4-over quota at an economy rate of 6.75, which was not enough to defend their total. Sri Lanka suffered back-to-back defeats in the Super Four stage of the Asia Cup 2025. And Pakistan bounced back after a heavy loss against India. 

Injury threat for the Sri Lanka cricket team as their prime all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga landed badly on the ground and injured himself. The physio quickly rushed onto the ground and provided medical assistance. Sri Lanka, from the beginning of the important match against Pakistan, was struggling with the bat. On the evening of September 23, 2025, two nations faced off against each other at the Dubai International Stadium for the Super Four Match 3 of the ongoing Asia Cup 2025.

Both of the teams have no option but to win the game, as they begin the Super Four journey with a defeat each. Wanindu Hasaranga has been a key instrument for Sri Lanka, so when he landed on the ground hard, it was an alarming situation for the island nation.

Pakistan started the match well with Shaheen Afridi, who quickly took the wicket of Kusal Mendis. The pitcher took the ticket in the second ball of the innings. Pakistan bowlers were at their top. Sri Lanka's top and middle order failed to build any significant partnership. Hopes were high around Hasaranga's batting qualities. 

Read More: SL vs PAK, Asia Cup 2025 Super Four Match 3: Sri Lanka vs Pakistan Toss Update and Playing XIs

Why did the physio rush into the field to assist the star all-rounder? 

On the third ball of the 10th over, Abrar Ahmed delivered a full-length, around-the-off delivery. Kamindu Mendis used his feet and lightly pushed the ball straight towards the bowler. In the meantime, Hasaranga failed to get out of the way quickly and got hit on his right hand. He was visibly in pain, and the physio was there on the field to check him.

The match remained paused for a while. Hasaranga received some treatment on the field and then started to carry on the match as usual. The physio applied magic spray on the right-handed wrist of Hasaranga, and then he felt relief to play. Though he could not carry his innings too long, as Abrar Ahmed bowled him out. The Sri Lankan star departed for 15 off 13. 

Sri Lanka and Pakistan are playing an important Super Fours fixture in the Asia Cup 2025, as it is a must-win fixture for both teams to stay in contention for the qualification of the Final.

In the match against Sri Lanka on Tuesday (September 23), Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha chose to field first after winning the toss at Abu Dhabi. Both teams suffered defeat in their first Super Fours game, as Bangladesh defeated Sri Lanka by four wickets with one ball remaining and India outclased Pakistan by six wickets with seven balls remaining. So, a defeat on Tuesday night will make the qualification for the Final the toughest, as nothing will remain in the losing team’s hand, while a victory will push them in the battle for the qualification for the Final.

WATCH: Shaheen Afridi strikes in the second ball during SL vs PAK, Asia Cup 2025 Super 4 match 

Dunith Wellalage and Kamil Mishara dropped from Sri Lankan squad

Sri Lanka made two important changes in the playing XI for the match against Pakistan. Chamika Karunaratne and Maheesh Theekshana have been included in the playing XI, while Dunith Wellalage and Kamil Mishara have been dropped. Both changes were tactical decisions from the Lankan side. 

Dunith recently lost his father, as he returned home to pay his last respects to his late father. But then he returned to the team and played their previous Super Fours fixture against Bangladesh on the same night, last Saturday. 

On the other hand, Kamil Mishara won the Player of the Match award for Sri Lanka in their tournament opener against Bangladesh in the group stage. But after that match, his form drastically dropped as he failed to reach the 20-run mark in last three innings. 

In the Asia Cup 2025, Sri Lanka qualified for the Super Fours as the Group B champions, as they won all three matches against Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and Hong Kong, to finish the group stage with six points. Meanwhile, Pakistan were the Group A runners-up, where they lost against India, but defeated Oman and the hosts United Arab Emirates. 

Sri Lanka won last five T20Is against Pakistan

Sri Lanka have won the last five T20Is against Pakistan since 2019, while before that Pakistan claimed six consecutive wins against Sri Lanka in this format. While it is the T20 Asia Cup, Sri Lanka are the defending champions, as they defeated Pakistan by 23 runs in the Final to win the T20 Asia Cup 2022 title. 

Early blow for Sri Lanka. Shaheen Afridi struck in the 2nd ball of the first over of the Sri Lanka vs Pakistan Asia Cup 2025 Super Four Match 3 on September 23 at the Dubai International Stadium. A soft dismissal for Sri Lanka. 

Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha chose to field first after winning the toss. His decision proved on point when Afridi took the wicket early, in the very first over of the game. It was not among the pitcher's best deliveries to clinch the batter. The ball was on a fuller length, around the middle, and off. Sri Lanka opener Kusal Mendis flicked the ball on the leg side. The connection was good, and the ball was travelling with good speed, but unfortunately, the batter did not find the gap. The momentum of the ball paused as it went straight to the fielder at mid-wicket, where Hussain Talat took it. It was a routine catch for the fielder. Kusal departed with a golden duck; Sri Lanka was 1/1. 

It is a must-win match for both Sri Lanka and Pakistan. In their previous matches, Sri Lanka lost against Bangladesh, and Pakistan was outclassed by India, which makes today's match a must-win for both teams. 

Read More: 'As Gauti sir said...'- Tilak Varma reveals World Cup plans team India has already made

Watch the dismissal here

Shaheen Shah Afridi in the first over 🦅 pic.twitter.com/vEfImrcode

— PCT Replays 2.0 (@ReplaysPCT) September 23, 2025

During the India vs. Pakistan match, Afridi fared the worst against India opener Abhishek Sharma. In that match, Afridi started off the first over of the second innings by conceding an over boundary. 

Playing XIs:

Pakistan: Sahibzada Farhan, Fakhar Zaman, Saim Ayub, Hussain Talat, Mohammad Nawaz, Salman Agha (C), Faheem Ashraf, Mohammad Haris (WK), Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, and Abrar Ahmed.

Sri Lanka: Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis (WK), Kusal Perera, Dasun Shanaka, Charith Asalanka (C), Kamindu Mendis, Chamika Karunaratne (in place of Kamil Mishara), Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana (in place of Maheesh Theekshana), Dushmantha Chameera, and Nuwan Thushara.

Pakistan and Sri Lanka are up against each other for the Super Four game of the Asia Cup 2025 tournament. Both of the teams started off their Super Four campaigns with defeats. Sri Lanka lost against Bangladesh, and Pakistan fell short against India in their previous matches. Today's (September 23) match is crucial for both the teams, a must-win match indeed. If any of these teams lose in today's match, then their hope for the Asia Cup 2025 final will be dimmed. The match will offer multiple rivalries, as there are too many quality players from both sides.

Before that toss, the Sri Lanka cricket board had already informed us, "Matheesha Pathirana is unwell and will not be available for selection for today’s game against Pakistan. He did not take part in team practice sessions during the last two days and is currently under medical treatment." For this reason, Sri Lanka has to make changes in their playing XI vs. Pakistan. On the other side, Pakistan remains their eleven unchanged. 

Toss Update:

Pakistan cricket team captain Salman Ali Agha won the toss and elected to bowl first. 

Read More: Terror activities being carried out in former Bangladesh captain's name! Massive claims from adviser

Salman Agha, after winning the toss, said, "We started well against India but lost out way between overs 10 to 15. We want to start well with the ball in this game. We are not worried about how we have performed against Sri Lanka in the past". 

Sri Lanka skipper Charith Asalanka mentioned, "Our team has been playing good cricket, though there are still areas to improve, especially death bowling. We felt the need for one extra bowler who can also contribute with the bat."

Playing XIs:

Pakistan: Sahibzada Farhan, Fakhar Zaman, Saim Ayub, Hussain Talat, Mohammad Nawaz, Salman Agha (C), Faheem Ashraf, Mohammad Haris (WK), Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, and Abrar Ahmed.

Sri Lanka: Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis (WK), Kusal Perera, Dasun Shanaka, Charith Asalanka (C), Kamindu Mendis, Chamika Karunaratne (in place of Kamil Mishara), Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana (in place of Maheesh Theekshana), Dushmantha Chameera, and Nuwan Thushara.

September 11, 2022—a date to remember for all Sri Lankan cricket fans. When the whole planet was devastated by the COVID-19 pandemic, hoping for a new dawn, Sri Lanka surprised the whole cricket world by winning the Asia Cup title, defeating Pakistan in the final. 

In 2022, the Asia Cup was arranged in the Twenty20 format, and India was the favorite to win the title. But they crashed out of the tournament before reaching the summit. In the final, on paper, Pakistan had a slight advantage over Sri Lanka. But a quality bowling performance from the island nation dismantled the Babar Azam-led Pakistan cricket team. 

Batting first, Sri Lanka registered 170 runs in 29 overs against 6 wickets. Bhanuka Rajapaksa alone scored an unbeaten 71 runs and was rewarded with the Man of the Match award. Wanindu Hasaranga from the lower middle order contributed with 36 runs. The total was not something outrageous that Pakistan could not claim. Haris Rauf was the best bowler for Pakistan by taking 3 scalps. 

Read More: Asia Cup 2025: 'We Will Only Follow Our Plan' – UAE skipper Muhammad Waseem confident ahead of India clash

Sri Lanka outclassed Pakistan to win their sixth Asia Cup title 

The target of 171 proved too much for the second batting team when they faced a batting disaster. Eight Pakistani batters went back to the dugout with single-digit scores; thus, a fighting 55-run knock from the opener Mohammad Rizwan did not do much to save the team from a defeat, a defeat in the final match of the Asia Cup. Iftikhar Ahmed (32) was another one who tried his best but could not convert his momentum into a match-winning effort. Pramod Madushan got 4 wickets, and Wanindu Hasaranga claimed 3 wickets for Sri Lanka. 

After winning the final, the happiest captain on the planet at that moment, Dasun Shanaka, said, "I must thank the crowd; they were supporting us massively. And also to the fans at home, hope we made them proud. These youngsters know conditions and situations very well. After losing five wickets, Hasaranga-Rajapaksa made a difference." 

Pakistan won the first Test after a really good performance from Saud Shakeel, giving some crucial points in the WTC. Last time around though, Pakistan managed to win a Test in Sri Lanka only to lose the next and they will be hoping they can continue with the same momentum here.

SL vs PAK Match Details

Date: July 24th, 2023

Time:  9:30 AM IST

Venue: Colombo

SL vs PAK Weather Report

The weather looks pretty clear for the upcoming fixture.

SL vs PAK Pitch Report

The track is likely to take some healthy turn as batting first remains a better option on pitch which will turn as the game progresses.

SL vs PAK Head-to-Head

Played- 54 | Sri Lanka- 16 | Pakistan- 20 | Draw- 18 | Tie- 0

SL vs PAK Predicted Playing XI

Sri Lanka Playing XI

Dimuth Karunaratne, Nishan Madhushka, Kusal Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal, Dhananjey De Silva, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Ramesh Mendis, Prabath Jayasuriya, Dilshan Madhushanka, Vishwa Fernando

Pakistan Playing XI

Abdullah Shahfique, Imam Ul Haq, Shan Masood, Babar Azam, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Saud Akeel, Agha Salman, Mohammad Nawaz, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Abrar Ahmed

SL vs PAK Key Players

Prabath Jayasuriya

Prabath Jayasuriya has been a huge threat at home in the last year. When Sri Lanka faced Pakistan at home last year he was the tormenter in chief, extracting strong turn making life tough for Pakistan batters.

Shaheen Shah Afridi

Shaheen Shah Afridi returns. He is back at the place where his injury troubles started and all eyes will be on his pace and rhythm as Afridi returns from a long injury lay-off.

SL vs PAK Match Tips

Sri Lanka are a strong side at home and with their massive arsenal of spinners they will be a tough side to put under control for Pakistan. The batting line-up too contains a fair bit of experience and with runs on the board Sri Lanka will be a huge threat.

Match Prediction: Sri Lanka Will Win the Match