Sri Lanka National Cricket Team vs Pakistan National Cricket Team Timeline: Complete History from 1975 to 2026

Sri Lanka National Cricket Team vs Pakistan National Cricket Team timeline is a long and interesting story between two dominant Asian cricket-playing nations. Truly, their rivalry has delivered hundreds of iconic Test matches, tens of close ODI contests, World Cup giants, and some most thrilling T20 clashes the Asian cricket has ever witnessed.

Pakistan and Sri Lanka would play their first official ODI against each other during the 1975 Cricket World Cup. Sri Lanka had not even been made a Test-playing nation at that stage. The two sides have since battled regularly in all three international formats. Pakistan have had overall success ahead historically, but Sri Lanka do boast their share of callback wins on the grandest stage.

Some of their meetings have been the World Cup in 1996, T20 World Cup final in 2009, T20 World Cup semi-final in 2012, the Asia Cup final in 2014, the Asia Cup in 2022, World Cup, and multiple series (2025–26).

This article takes you through the major stages of the rivalry in chronological order.

Sri Lanka vs Pakistan: Quick History

The Test figures are based on 59 matches, while the T20I figures are based on 30 official matches.

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1975: The Rivalry Begins

The two sides first met in an ODI when Sri Lanka faced Pakistan at the inaugural Cricket World Cup in 1975.

Pakistan won that match convincingly. They made 330/6 in their 60 overs and dismissed Sri Lanka for just 138, winning by a crushing margin of 192 runs. Others such as Sadiq Mohammad, Majid Khan and Zaheer Abbas also contributed.

In the context of Sri Lanka still being an emerging international side, this was a vital early chapter. One was Pakistan which had already established itself as a test nation with much more experience at the top´.

Sri Lanka slowly became a full Test-playing nation, and the two teams would meet again at World Cups and in bilateral cricket.

1982: Sri Lanka Become a Test Nation

When Sri Lanka was granted Test status in 1982, it marked its biggest success.

And it changed the way one team looked at another. Their cricketing rivalry, too, was now not confined wholly to limited-overs matches. Another arena was created for the established Pakistani bowling tradition to meet the developing Sri Lankan batting and spin resources in the form of Test cricket.

The 1980s was mostly a decade dominated by Pakistan in the overall record. Pakistani side was made hard to beat with players like Imran Khan, Javed Miandad, and a few other star players.

Yet Sri Lanka went on to make rapid strides and soon, in the years to come would be one of the top units that ruled world cricket during the ’90s.

1990s: Sri Lanka Rise as a Major Cricket Nation

Asian cricket shifted emotively in the 1990s.

For this reason Sri Lanka had an army of players graduating to being world class, for there was Arjuna Ranatunga, Aravinda de Silva, Sanath Jayasuriya, and later Muttiah Muralithanan. Pakistan, too, were treated to a fantastic crop of players before the 1992 World Cup—led by Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Inzamam-ul-Haq, and Saeed Anwar.

They faced each other routinely in limited overs or test-level competitions.

The time period during the World Cup in 1996 was one of two key moments.

1996 World Cup: A New Sri Lankan Era

India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka co-hosted the 1996 Cricket World Cup where Sri Lanka clinched the title.

Pakistan and Sri Lanka were also the dominating team of the tournament. Pakistan, however, had a wonderful World Cup history but Sri Lanka’s aggressive opening and radical batting thus becoming one of the best sides in the tournament.

In current circumstances, Sri Lanka rout Australia in final at Lahore and claimed their first-ever men’s Cricket World Cup title. Aravinda de Silva had a standout final.

This tournament introduced Sri Lanka as a true force in world cricket.

2000s: A Competitive Asian Rivalry

Matches between these two teams grew even more competitive throughout the 2000s.

Pakistan would keep producing some of the finest fast bowlers and attacking batters, while Sri Lanka was establishing an attack that ranked among the best in spin-bowling world cricket.

With Muttiah Muralitharan stepping out as a giant, Sri Lankan cricket would be known for more than just the traditional greats of years gone by, while Pakistan continued to depend solely and absolutely on pace.

They clashed through bilateral series, Asia Cup matches and World Cup competitions.

The competition is so interesting because in different conditions one or the other team could completely dominate. Pakistan have a much frightening pace attack on friendly surfaces and Sri Lankan spins will choke matches down with their spin-friendly Asian tracks.

2009 T20 World Cup Final: Pakistan Win the Title

But one of the fondest games played in the entire Sri Lanka national cricket team vs Pakistan national cricket team history was played at Lord’s in 2009.

It made it so to the final of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup against Pakistan,

Sri Lanka lost the plot with the bat to end at 138/6. Sangakkara remained not out on 64 and helped his side to a defensible score despite a troubled start.

Pakistan took it well and calmly.

The decisive knock was that of Shahid Afridi, who remained not out on 54 from 40 balls. Pakistan achieved the target with eight balls to spare and claimed an emphatic 8-wicket win.

The win also marked the first time Pakistan has secured the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.

2011 World Cup: Another Major Meeting

The historic rivalry saw the two sides playing against each other during the 2011 Cricket World Cup in Sri Lanka as well.

The match was won by Pakistan, which continued its strong record against Sri Lanka in World Cup play, by 11 runs.

Those meetings have traditionally been significant as England, in ODIs, have nearly always come out on top against Pakistan aside from when it comes to World Cups – and that is where the deals hang around As per ICC historical review, Pakistan had won first seven World Cup clashes against Sri Lanka up to 2011 tournament.

2012 T20 World Cup Semi-Final

One of those came through an important opportunity to overturn that trend in the year 2012 during the ICC World T20 for Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka held the hosting rights and their national team made it to a semi-final against Pakistan.

It was a good match for Sri Lanka and they won the match by 16 runs.

It was a major result because it not only put Sri Lanka into the final on home turf, but also indicated that balance of power in the shortest format was finally beginning to fall much more level between the teams.

2014: One of the Best Years in the Rivalry

A plethora of significant Sri Lanka-Pakistan matches in 2014.

Sri Lanka broke Pakistan’s aura in the Asia Cup by 12 runs in a nail biting contest. Lasith Malinga 5/52 and Lahiru Thirimanne and Kumar Sangakkara Hunter text partnership (5018;’), SrI LhM.

Sri Lanka also gained their first ODI series victory over Pakistan later that year.

Pakistan have been skittled for just 102 in the deciding third ODI. You are here:HomeAbout The SiteOther SportsCricBuzzSri Lanka vs Bangladesh: 3rd ODI, Sri Lanka tour of Bangladesh 2020- Stats ReviewThisara Perera – 4/34 Helped Complete a Seven-wicket Victory As Sri Lanka Bedazzled Bangladesh to clinch the Series by 2-1

It was also a very tight contest in the Test rivalry during this period.

2014 Asia Cup Final

Flashback to the Asia Cup final from 2014, another memorable passage.

Pakistan got to 260 after losing early wickets, Fawad Alam scoring an unbeaten 114.

Lahiru Thirimanne and Mahela Jayawardene made the reply for Sri Lanka. The duo put Sri Lanka well and truly on the path to chase it down with their third-wicket partnership.

Angelo Mathews (namesake) and Chaturanga de Silva finished it off as Sri Lanka won the final by five wickets.

Another case in point of Sri Lanka standing up to Pakistan when the heat was on.

2017: Pakistan Win an Important ODI Series

The two teams had their regular meetups during the 2010s, where Pakistan and Sri Lanka continued.

At this point, Pakistan had an impressive head-to-head record against India in ODI cricket. Pakistan led the ODI head to head in ICC recordings from those same time periods.

Another major tournament chapter in their history was written, as the two sides met most recently at the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy.

2019 World Cup

This was followed by another match between the teams at the 2019 Cricket World Cup.

It rained during the match and it became another World Cup clash between the countries.

The contest was won by Sri Lanka, who won the game by 20 runs to add yet another high-profile win against Pakistan to their extensive and impressive list of big match victories between these two countries in ICC-funded tournaments.

2022: Pakistan’s Historic Test Chase in Galle

2022 was one of the most memorable modern matches in Test rivalry history.

Pakistan vs Sri Lanka—Galle, needing to chase down a modest 342 for win.

Abdullah Shafique made a brilliant unbeaten 160. Pakistan chased the total down with four wickets in hand, and at that time became the first team to successfully chase down a target higher than 99 in Galle.

That was a landmark result for Pakistan, but also one in the context of modern Test rivalry between the teams.

2022 Asia Cup: Pakistan and Sri Lanka Meet Again

7580 matches between Sri Lanka and Pakistan in 2022 Asia Cup

The two sides met again in the final after Sri Lanka’s victory over Pakistan at the Super Four stage.

The latter eventually earned a 23-run win for Pakistan in the final, another landmark T20 final to add to their growing rivalry.

It highlighted further, how the teams can be evenly poised in the shortest format.

2023 World Cup: Pakistan Make a Record Chase

One of the most exciting ODI in recent memory came as a part of 2023 Cricket World Cup.

For Sri Lanka: Kusal Mendis 117, Sadeera Samarawickrama 108

Babar Azam dismissal was disastrous for Pakistan, as they were in a spot of bother.

However, Abdullah Shafique and Mohammad Rizwan changed the course of the match after that.

During this innings, Shafique scored 113 (not out) and Rizwan also converted his hundred to 131 (not out). But they failed to stop Pakistan making it with 10 balls to spare, achieving a third-wicket partnership of 176 runs.

Pakistan won by six wickets.

This makes the chase of 345 runs the largest successful chase in World Cup history. As a matter of fact, it was as well the initial time in Globe Mug background that 4 batters sign up for a century in one video game.

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2025: Pakistan Dominate the ODI Series

The rivalry continued strongly in 2025.

Sri Lanka toured Pakistan for a three-match ODI series in November.

Pakistan won all three matches.

Pakistan scored 299/5 and Sri Lanka made 293/9 in a match that was very close.

Pakistan then eased to victory in the second ODI and sealed the clean sweep in the third match.

January 2026: T20I Series in Dambulla

They faced each other again when Sri Lanka played a three-match T20I series in January 2026.

Pakistan chased Sri Lanka’s 128 to win the first match by six wickets.

The second was a washed-out match, whereas Sri Lanka won it in 3rd game by 14 runs.

The second match was abandoned without a result, so it is important not to count it as a completed T20I when calculating the official head-to-head record.

February 2026: T20 World Cup Thriller

The most recent significant installment in the Sri Lanka national cricket team v Pakistan national cricket team timeline occurred at the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.

Pakistan and Sri Lanka competed in Kandy during Super Eight stage

What is even more significant here from the point of view of records is that it saw the highest partnership ever for Pakistan made by Fakhar Zaman and Sahibzada Farhan with only 212/8.

Sri Lanka, were bounced back well after getting 94/4 but Pakistan managed to win by a narrow margin of 5 runs.

Sri Lanka ended up with 207/6, making it one of the narrowest recent matches in terms of runs between the teams.

But the victory was only enough for Pakistan to go 3rd in their group and so, they couldn’t reach the semi-finals.

Sri Lanka vs Pakistan Head-to-Head Record

The overall record shows that Pakistan have the advantage, especially in Tests and T20Is.

These figures cover senior men’s international matches and exclude unofficial games. The ODI record is updated through November 2025, while the T20I record includes the February 2026 World Cup meeting.

Most Important Matches in the Rivalry

Several matches stand out when looking at the complete history.

• 1975 World Cup: FIRST-EVER ODI (official): Pakistan won by 192 runs
• Era of the 1996 World Cup: ⇒ Sri Lanka became a strong candidate for the title and won their maiden World Cup.
• Pakistan v Sri Lanka 2009 T20 World Cup Final: Pakistan claim first men’s T20 World Cup title against Sri Lanka
• Q.14 2012 T20 World Cup Semi-Final: Sri Lanka won by 16 runs against Pakistan
• 2014 Asia Cup Final: Sri Lanka beat Pakistan by 5 wickets.
• Pakistan | Chased 342 | Abdullah Shafique 160* | 2022 Galle Test
• Pakistan chased a record 345 against Sri Lanka in the 2023 World Cup.
• 3-0 AS PAKISTAN SWEEP ODI SERIES 2025
• Pakistan edges out Sri Lanka to win by five runs in Kandy in 2026 T20 World Cup

Players Who Shaped the Rivalry

Among the finest cricketing talent from both countries has graced this fierce rivalry.

Pakistan

Important Pakistani names include:

• Imran Khan
• Wasim Akram
• Waqar Younis
• Javed Miandad
• Inzamam-ul-Haq
• Shahid Afridi
• Babar Azam
• Mohammad Rizwan
• Abdullah Shafique

Sri Lanka

A legend that has also produced many legends who scored runs against Pakistan:

• Arjuna Ranatunga
• Aravinda de Silva
• Sanath Jayasuriya
• Muttiah Muralitharan
• Kumar Sangakkara
• Mahela Jayawardene
• Lasith Malinga
• Angelo Mathews
• Wanindu Hasaranga

These are players from varying generations of the rivalry, across timelines—from Test match traditions to T20 cricket.

Why This Rivalry Is Special

Geography may divide Sri Lanka and Pakistan, but there is a long cricketing relationship between them as well.

Both countries also produced teams who could change a match very quickly indeed. Pakistan have often been known more for their fast bowle and mercurial match-winners. Sri Lanka have made their name based on good batters, quality spin bowling and a tactical edge to the game.

Their contests are limited to several major Asian tournaments, with an immense amount of pressure perpetually present.

That mix has created a rivalry that goes way beyond just pure head-to-head numbers.

Final Thoughts

This timeline covers five decades of international cricket between the Sri Lanka national cricket team and the Pakistan national cricket team.

However, while Pakistan has the better overall record of the teams statistically, Sri Lanka has had some of the biggest victories in one of cricket’s great rivalries. The T20 World Cup semi-final of 2012, the Asia Cup triumph in 2014, and a few tight contests between the two during World Cups have established that nothing is set in stone.

Pakistan, also, brought out some synonymous memories for themselves—the glorious 2009 T20 World Cup final win to the special Test at home in the summer of 2022 and most recently this chase against India during the 2023 World Cup.

Now, the rivalry has moved up another generation with fresh chapters added with the 2025 ODI series, T20Is in January 2026 and a five-run World Cup thriller.

With both teams in the process of rebuilding and developing fresh talent, subsequent clashes should provide plenty more memories to this ongoing Asian cricket rivalry.

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