Sri Lanka will go head-to-head against Pakistan in the first of the three-match T20I series. This article talks about Sri Lanka’s Playing 11 vs Pakistan for the first match of the series.
Sri Lanka Playing XI vs Pakistan- 1st T20I, Pakistan Tour of Sri Lanka 2026:
Openers: Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis (wk)
Sri Lanka would want to start the year with a win in T20I cricket after a disappointing performance in this format of the game last year, when they take on Pakistan in the first game of the three-match series at home.
The island nation has undergone a change in leadership in the T20I format with former captain Dasun Shanaka back at the helm.
Other than the change in captaincy, the former T20 World Cup winners have retained the core that has been a part of the Sri Lankan setup in the last two assignments.
The team management would back its openers to get the team off to a good start and lay a platform for the middle order batters to make the most of it by creating pressure on the opposition bowling attack, who might be short of one specialist bowler.
The opening pair of Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis will also be entrusted to score individually to gain confidence for the remaining couple of matches in the series and take the same momentum into the next series.
Middle-order batsmen and all-rounders: Kamil Mishara, Kusal Perera, Charith Asalanka, Kamindu Mendis, Dasun Shanaka (c), Wanindu Hasaranga
The form or the lack of it of the Sri Lankan middle order was one of the major reasons for the team’s lackluster performance with the bat last year, and the captain would hope the batters to rectify it in the upcoming match.
Names like Kamil Mishara, Kusal Perera, Charith Asalanka, and Kamindu Mendis would be relied upon to come good.
Along with the above-mentioned batters, captain Dasun Shanka will also play a crucial role at the backend of the innings while batting at number seven.
Shanaka will get the company of all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga, who is more than a handy batter and will be entrusted to show his batting prowess in the final five overs.
Bowlers: Maheesh Theekshana, Nuwan Thushara, Dushmantha Chameera
As far as Sri Lanka’s bowling attack is concerned, it will include a plethora of spinners and three fast bowlers, including captain Dasun Shanaka.
However, the effectiveness of the spinners will depend on the amount of dew that comes into play during the match.
That is the reason playing more than two spinners might be a huge risk in the first T20I against Pakistan, and Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana should be trusted to take care of the team’s spin bowling department.
The fast bowling department of Sri Lanka will be handled by Nuwan Thushara and Dushmantha Chamara as the two specialist fast bowlers, who will be assisted by Dasun Shanaka.
It will have to be a complete effort with the ball from the home side to restrict a strong batting lineup of Pakistan.
