sri lanka national cricket team vs pakistan national cricket team timeline

Q: Q1: What is the overall head-to-head record between Sri Lanka and Pakistan?

A1: Pakistan leads in all formats- 23–17 in Tests (19 drawn), 95–59 in ODIs, and 17–12 in T20Is as of February 2026.

Q: Q2: When did Sri Lanka and Pakistan first play each other?

A2: The first match was a Test at the National Stadium, Karachi, in February 1982. Sri Lanka were playing in only their inaugural Test series. Pakistan won by 204 runs.

Q: Q3: Who has the most Test runs in Sri Lanka vs Pakistan cricket?

A3: Younis Khan (Pakistan) leads with 3,139 Test runs across 29 matches, including his 313 at Karachi in 2009-the highest individual score in this fixture.

Q: Q5: Who leads ODI runs between Sri Lanka and Pakistan?

A5: Sanath Jayasuriya leads with 2,517 ODI runs from 82 matches, including a highest score of 134 off 65 balls.

Q: Q7: When did Sri Lanka first win a Test series in Pakistan?

A7: Sri Lanka won the 1995–96 Test series in Pakistan 2–1 -their first series win on Pakistani soil. They repeated the feat in 1999–2000.

Q: Q8: What happened during the 2009 Lahore attack involving Sri Lanka?

A8: On March 3, 2009, the Sri Lanka team bus was attacked by gunmen in Lahore. Eight people were killed, six Sri Lankan players were wounded. International cricket in Pakistan was suspended for nearly a decade. Sri Lanka became the first major Test nation to return, touring Pakistan in December 2019.

Q: Q10: Who leads the T20I wickets tally between Sri Lanka and Pakistan?

A10: Wanindu Hasaranga leads with 23 wickets from 11 T20I matches at an average of 12.69 and economy rate of 6.79-the best bowling numbers by any player in Pakistan vs Sri Lanka T20Is.

In February 2026, Pakistan chased 212 off 20 overs against Sri Lanka in a T20 World Cup Super 8 at Pallekele-and still got eliminated from the tournament. That single result captures what makes the Sri Lanka national cricket team vs Pakistan national cricket team timeline one of Asian cricket’s most layered stories: results rarely tell the full truth. Forty-four years. 59 Tests. 159 ODIs. 29 T20Is. One terrorist attack that nearly ended cricket in Pakistan. Dozens of series where fortunes reversed within months. The rivalry between these two nations has never followed a predictable pattern. This is the complete, format-by-format breakdown-every series, every record, every turning point-from Karachi in 1982 to Kandy in 2026.

Sri Lanka vs Pakistan Head-to-Head

The Sri Lanka national cricket team vs Pakistan national cricket team overall record shows Pakistan leading in all three formats, though Sri Lanka’s recent ICC tournament performances significantly close that gap.

Format	Matches	Pakistan Won	Sri Lanka Won	Other
Tests	59	23	17	19 drawn
ODIs	159	95	59	1 tied, 4 NR
T20Is	29	17	12	0

Key context:

Pakistan’s biggest advantage is in ODIs-95 wins to 59 is a substantial overall gap
Sri Lanka’s strongest format relative to overall bilateral record is Tests, where the gap is smaller (23–17) and they twice won consecutive series in Pakistan
In ICC tournaments, Sri Lanka holds the edge: 3 wins in knockout stages vs Pakistan’s 2

Full Series Timeline: Sri Lanka vs Pakistan in Tests (1982–2023)

The Sri Lanka national cricket team vs Pakistan national cricket team timeline in Test cricket begins with Sri Lanka’s very first match as a Test nation-and Pakistan was the opponent.

1982–1995: Pakistan’s Dominant Early Era

Sri Lanka played their inaugural Test against Pakistan in Karachi in February 1982, under captain Bandula Warnapura. Pakistan won by 204 runs. A second Pakistan victory by an innings and 102 runs followed at Lahore-the most comprehensive Test win in this rivalry by margin. Pakistan, led by Javed Miandad with Wasim Akram developing his craft, had every structural advantage over a team playing their first-ever Test series. The 1985–86 home series in Sri Lanka (1-1) was the first sign that Sri Lanka could compete on their own terms. Sri Lanka winning one Test in that series was the earliest indicator of what was coming.

1995–2000: Sri Lanka Win in Pakistan-Twice

This is the most underrated stretch in this rivalry. Sri Lanka won the 1995–96 Test series in Pakistan 2–1-their first series win on Pakistani soil. They then repeated the result in 1999–2000 (also 2–1 in Pakistan). Winning consecutive Test series in Pakistan is something even India and Australia have struggled to achieve. This achievement defined Sri Lanka’s rise as a genuine Asian Test power.

2009–2017: Sri Lanka’s Dominant Phase

Sri Lanka’s Test record from 2009 to 2017 against Pakistan is their strongest extended run in this rivalry:

2009 (Sri Lanka): Sri Lanka won 2–0
2014 (Sri Lanka): Sri Lanka won 2–0
2017/18 (UAE): Sri Lanka won 2–0

Three series, six Tests, zero defeats. The common thread was spin bowling-first Muttiah Muralitharan, then Rangana Herath-operating in conditions where Pakistan’s batting struggled with variable bounce and sharp turn.

2019–2023: Pakistan’s Recovery

Pakistan began reversing the trend in the post-2019 cycle. Sri Lanka’s return tour to Pakistan in 2019–20 ended Pakistan 1–0 (1 drawn). Pakistan then won both Tests in the 2023 Sri Lanka series 2–0. Pakistan’s 2023 Test series win marked their most complete home-and-away cycle against Sri Lanka in a decade.

Period	Series Played	Pakistan Won	Sri Lanka Won
1982–1994	4	3	0
1995–2004	6	3	3
2009–2017	5	0	5
2019–2023	3	2	1

The Sri Lanka vs Pakistan ODI and T20I Series History

ODI Series Highlights

The sri lanka national cricket team vs pakistan national cricket team ODI rivalry is Pakistan’s most comfortable format advantage. Pakistan’s 95–59 overall ODI lead spans 35+ years and multiple hosting venues.

Pakistan’s most dominant ODI win: Pakistan beat Sri Lanka chasing 344 at the 2023 ODI World Cup in Hyderabad-one of the highest successful chases in World Cup history.

Sri Lanka’s most dominant ODI win: Sri Lanka beat Pakistan by 165 runs in Hambantota in 2015-posting 368/4 and restricting Pakistan to 203. This remains the biggest margin of victory by runs in ODIs between these teams.

T20I Series-Key Results

2022 Asia Cup: Sri Lanka won the tournament, defeating Pakistan in key group stage matches
2025 Tri-Series Final (Rawalpindi): Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by 6 wickets, with Sri Lanka posting only 114
January 2026 (Dambulla): Sri Lanka won the 3rd T20I by 14 runs on home soil
2026 T20 World Cup Super 8: Pakistan won by 5 runs in a last-over thriller-their highest T20I total (212/8) in this fixture

ICC Tournament Head-to-Head Record

In ICC tournaments, the Sri Lanka vs Pakistan cricket timeline produces some of the sport’s most significant knockout results.

Year	Tournament	Stage	Winner	Result
1996	ODI World Cup	Quarter-final	Sri Lanka	Sri Lanka won
2009	T20 World Cup	Final	Pakistan	Won by 8 wickets
2012	T20 World Cup	Semi-final	Sri Lanka	Won by 16 runs
2014	Asia Cup	Final	Sri Lanka	Sri Lanka won
2022	Asia Cup	Group + cycle	Sri Lanka	Sri Lanka won title
2023	ODI World Cup	Group stage	Pakistan	Won by 6 wickets
2026	T20 World Cup	Super 8	Pakistan	Won by 5 runs

Sri Lanka have won 3 of 5 knockout encounters against Pakistan in ICC tournaments. Pakistan’s overall bilateral lead in ODIs and T20Is does not reflect their tournament-stage record against Sri Lanka.

The 1996 ODI World Cup: Jayasuriya Changed the Game

The 1996 quarter-final in Lahore was not just a win for Sri Lanka-it was the match where Sanath Jayasuriya’s Powerplay approach dismantled Pakistan’s bowling plans. Sri Lanka’s strategy of attacking the first 10 overs with no regard for wickets was new in international cricket. Pakistan, with one of the world’s best pace attacks, had no template to counter it. Sri Lanka won the tournament. Jayasuriya won the match. Both teams have approached ODI Powerplays differently ever since.

The 2009 T20 World Cup Final at Lord’s

Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by 8 wickets at Lord’s on June 21, 2009. Sri Lanka set 138/6. Pakistan chased it in 18.4 overs-a disciplined, clinical performance with Shahid Afridi and Misbah-ul-Haq as the key contributors. This remains Pakistan’s biggest ICC final win against Sri Lanka.

All-Time Records: Sri Lanka National Cricket Team vs Pakistan National Cricket Team

Batting Records

Record	Player	Value
Most Test runs (PAK)	Younis Khan	3,139 runs in 29 matches
Highest Test score	Younis Khan	313, Karachi, 2009
Most ODI runs	Sanath Jayasuriya (SL)	2,517 runs in 82 matches
Highest ODI score	Sanath Jayasuriya (SL)	134 off 65 balls, Singapore, 1996
Most T20I runs	Shoaib Malik (PAK)	397 runs in 16 innings
Highest T20I score	Kusal Perera (SL)	84, Dubai, 2013
Highest team total (Tests)	Pakistan	765/6d, Faisalabad, 2004
Highest team total (T20Is)	Pakistan	212/8, Pallekele, 2026
Highest successful chase (ODI)	Pakistan	344, 2023 ODI World Cup

Bowling Records

Record	Player	Value
Most Test wickets	M. Muralitharan (SL)	88 wickets at avg 24.62
Most T20I wickets	Wanindu Hasaranga (SL)	23 wickets in 11 matches, avg 12.69
Best T20I economy	Wanindu Hasaranga (SL)	6.79 economy rate

Top Run Scorers in ODIs: Career Totals

Player	Country	Matches	Runs	HS	Average	SR
Sanath Jayasuriya	Sri Lanka	82	2,517	134*	32.68	87.21
Aravinda de Silva	Sri Lanka	75	2,319	134	34.61	82.38
Inzamam-ul-Haq	Pakistan	63	2,265	118*	44.41	78.02
Saeed Anwar	Pakistan	52	2,198	126	44.85	82.19
Mahela Jayawardene	Sri Lanka	67	1,903	123	30.69	75.24

Jayasuriya leads all ODI run-scorers in this rivalry with 2,517 runs. Saeed Anwar’s average of 44.85 is Pakistan’s best among batters with 50+ innings in this fixture-the most efficient ODI batter Pakistan has produced against Sri Lanka.

Biggest Wins in the Rivalry

Biggest Win by Runs (ODI)

Sri Lanka beat Pakistan by 165 runs in Hambantota in 2015-posting 368/4 and restricting Pakistan to 203. This is the largest margin by runs in this fixture.

Biggest Win by Wickets (Tests)

Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by an innings and 102 runs at Lahore in 1982-the most comprehensive Test result in this rivalry.

Most Dramatic Win

Pakistan won the 2026 T20 World Cup Super 8 by 5 runs at Pallekele, chasing what became 212/8 off 20 overs-their highest T20I total in this fixture-and conceding 207/6. The match simultaneously eliminated Pakistan from the tournament via net run rate calculations, making it one of the few cricket matches where a winning team is knocked out on the same day.

Venue Breakdown

Pakistan’s Home Record vs Sri Lanka

Pakistan has a strong home Test record against Sri Lanka-15 wins, 4 losses, 12 draws across all domestic Test series. Karachi, Lahore, and Rawalpindi have been Pakistan’s most productive venues. In the November 2025 ODI series at Rawalpindi, Pakistan won 3–0 with both Fakhar Zaman and Babar Azam scoring 165 runs each in the series-a combined batting performance that reflected Pakistan’s comfort on those surfaces.

Sri Lanka’s Home Advantage

Sri Lanka’s home Test record against Pakistan shows 9 wins, 7 losses, 13 draws. Galle is Sri Lanka’s most dominant venue in this fixture-its historically spin-supportive surface, combined with the lineage from Muralitharan to Herath to current Sri Lankan spinners, consistently creates challenging conditions for Pakistan’s batters in the fourth innings.

UAE: The Split Result Era

Pakistan used UAE as a home Test venue from 2010 to 2019. Across three UAE Test series against Sri Lanka, each nation won one series each, with one series ending level. This split result across a full decade in UAE shows that Pakistan’s advantage on neutral sub-continental pitches against Sri Lanka is not as clear-cut as in Pakistan itself.

Key Player Rivalries

Muttiah Muralitharan vs Pakistan

Muralitharan took 88 Test wickets against Pakistan at an average of 24.62-more than against any other opponent in his career. His doosra and off-break combination gave Pakistan’s right-hand batters no reliable method of attack. Across the 2000–2009 window-the peak of Sri Lanka’s Test success against Pakistan-Muralitharan was the single most decisive factor in series results. His 800 Test wickets overall remain the all-time record.

Younis Khan vs Sri Lanka

Younis Khan’s 3,139 Test runs against Sri Lanka are the most by any batter on either side in this fixture. His 313 at Karachi in 2009-made against a Sri Lanka bowling attack featuring Muralitharan and Ajantha Mendis at their peak-is the highest individual score in the entire rivalry. One statistically notable detail: his average in Tests played in Sri Lanka was 27.44, significantly lower than his career average of 52+, reflecting how much Galle and Colombo conditions tested even elite Pakistan batters.

Kumar Sangakkara vs Pakistan

Sangakkara was the defining Sri Lanka batter during their 2009–2017 Test dominance over Pakistan. His ability to build innings against Pakistan’s pace attack and convert to big hundreds-particularly in the UAE Tests of 2013-14 where he scored a double century in Dubai-gave Sri Lanka consistent match-controlling platforms that allowed their spinners to operate with large totals behind them.

Sanath Jayasuriya vs Pakistan (ODIs)

Jayasuriya’s 2,517 ODI runs against Pakistan are the most in the history of this fixture. His approach of targeting the first 10 overs as a scoring window-rather than a survival phase-was a direct tactical evolution that redefined how both teams prepared Powerplay strategies in subsequent years.

Wanindu Hasaranga vs Pakistan (T20Is)

Hasaranga’s 23 T20I wickets at an average of 12.69 and economy of 6.79 are the best numbers by any bowler in Pakistan vs Sri Lanka T20I history. His leg-spin and googly combination has created consistent problems for Pakistan’s middle-order batters both at home in Sri Lanka and in UAE conditions.

Last 10 Matches Result Tracker

Date	Format	Venue	Winner	Margin
Feb 28, 2026	T20I (T20WC Super 8)	Pallekele	Pakistan	5 runs
Jan 11, 2026	3rd T20I	Dambulla	Sri Lanka	14 runs
Jan 07, 2026	1st T20I	Dambulla	Pakistan	6 wickets
Nov 29, 2025	T20I Tri-Series Final	Rawalpindi	Pakistan	6 wickets
Nov 27, 2025	T20I Tri-Series	Rawalpindi	Sri Lanka	6 runs
Nov 22, 2025	T20I Tri-Series	Rawalpindi	Pakistan	7 wickets
Nov 14, 2025	2nd ODI	Rawalpindi	Pakistan	—
Nov 11, 2025	1st ODI	Rawalpindi	Pakistan	1 run
2024	Test	Sri Lanka	Sri Lanka	—
Oct 2023	ODI World Cup	Hyderabad	Pakistan	6 wickets

Pakistan have won 7 of the last 10 matches. Sri Lanka’s wins are both on home soil in Dambulla-a pattern consistent with the broader venue trend in this rivalry.

FAQs:

Q1: What is the overall head-to-head record between Sri Lanka and Pakistan?

A1: Pakistan leads in all formats-23–17 in Tests (19 drawn), 95–59 in ODIs, and 17–12 in T20Is as of February 2026.

Q2: When did Sri Lanka and Pakistan first play each other?

A2: The first match was a Test at the National Stadium, Karachi, in February 1982. Sri Lanka were playing in only their inaugural Test series. Pakistan won by 204 runs.

Q3: Who has the most Test runs in Sri Lanka vs Pakistan cricket?

A3: Younis Khan (Pakistan) leads with 3,139 Test runs across 29 matches, including his 313 at Karachi in 2009-the highest individual score in this fixture.

Q4: Who has taken the most wickets in Sri Lanka vs Pakistan Tests?

A4: Muttiah Muralitharan took 88 Test wickets against Pakistan at an average of 24.62-more than he took against any other team in his career.

Q5: Who leads ODI runs between Sri Lanka and Pakistan?

A5: Sanath Jayasuriya leads with 2,517 ODI runs from 82 matches, including a highest score of 134 off 65 balls.

Q6: What is the highest T20I total in Pakistan vs Sri Lanka matches?

A6: Pakistan scored 212/8 at Pallekele on February 28, 2026-the highest T20I total in this fixture, overtaking Sri Lanka’s 211/3 in Dubai in 2013.

Q7: When did Sri Lanka first win a Test series in Pakistan?

A7: Sri Lanka won the 1995–96 Test series in Pakistan 2–1-their first series win on Pakistani soil. They repeated the feat in 1999–2000.

Q8: What happened during the 2009 Lahore attack involving Sri Lanka?

A8: On March 3, 2009, the Sri Lanka team bus was attacked by gunmen in Lahore. Eight people were killed, six Sri Lankan players were wounded. International cricket in Pakistan was suspended for nearly a decade. Sri Lanka became the first major Test nation to return, touring Pakistan in December 2019.

Q9: What is the biggest win by runs between these two teams in ODIs?

A9: Sri Lanka beat Pakistan by 165 runs in Hambantota in 2015-posting 368/4 and restricting Pakistan to 203.

Q10: Who leads the T20I wickets tally between Sri Lanka and Pakistan?

A10: Wanindu Hasaranga leads with 23 wickets from 11 T20I matches at an average of 12.69 and economy rate of 6.79-the best bowling numbers by any player in Pakistan vs Sri Lanka T20Is.