Pakistan Face Sri Lanka in First T20I Tonight as Sahibzada Farhan Begins Captaincy Era
RAWALPINDI, PAKISTAN — WEB DESK: Pakistan will face Sri Lanka in the opening match of their three-match Twenty20 International series at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Friday, October 9, with newly appointed captain Sahibzada Farhan preparing to lead the national side on home soil for the first time.
The match is scheduled to begin at 6:00pm Pakistan Standard Time, with the toss taking place at 5:30pm.
🇵🇰
Pakistan
Sahibzada Farhan
1st T20I
VS
9 Oct 2026
🇱🇰
Sri Lanka
Kusal Mendis
6:00 PM
Match start (PKT)
Oct 9
Friday
Rawalpindi
Cricket Stadium
Scheduled fixture details; the match had not started at the time of this report.
Sahibzada Farhan Begins New Leadership Role
The series marks a new phase for Pakistan’s T20 side following changes to the national team’s leadership and selection.
Farhan, 30, has taken over the captaincy from Salman Ali Agha after leading Pakistan at the recent Asian Games, where the team secured a silver medal.
Speaking ahead of the series, Farhan described captaining Pakistan on home soil as an honour and expressed confidence in the squad’s combination of experienced players and emerging talent.
Senior players Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan and Shaheen Shah Afridi are absent from the T20I squad.
However, Farhan indicated that the opportunity to return to the national team remained open for experienced cricketers.
Pakistan Focus on Aggressive Batting
Pakistan are expected to adopt an attacking batting approach, with Fakhar Zaman, Saim Ayub, Hasan Nawaz and Maaz Sadaqat among the players capable of providing quick runs.
The squad also includes Shadab Khan, Abdul Samad and wicketkeeper Khawaja Nafay.
In the bowling department, Pakistan have several options, including fast bowler Naseem Shah, leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed and left-arm wrist-spinner Sufiyan Moqim.
Uncapped players Razaullah and Muhammad Imran Randhawa are also included in the 15-member squad.
The final playing XI will be confirmed closer to the toss.
Sri Lanka Enter Series Under Kusal Mendis
Sri Lanka will be led by Kusal Mendis, with the visitors also making changes to their T20 setup.
Former captain Charith Asalanka is not part of the squad, while leading spinner Wanindu Hasaranga is unavailable because of injury.
Mendis acknowledged Hasaranga’s absence but expressed confidence in the balance of Sri Lanka’s bowling attack.
The visiting captain also highlighted his team’s familiarity with Pakistani playing conditions, noting that several players have previous experience in the Pakistan Super League.
Full Pakistan vs Sri Lanka T20I Schedule
| Match | Date | Time (PKT) | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st T20I | Friday, October 9 | 6:00 PM | Rawalpindi |
| 2nd T20I | Sunday, October 11 | 6:00 PM | Rawalpindi |
| 3rd T20I | Tuesday, October 13 | 6:00 PM | Rawalpindi |
All three matches will be played at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.
Where to Watch Pakistan vs Sri Lanka Live
Cricket fans in Pakistan can watch the series on PTV Sports, while live coverage is also available through the PCB Live app in supported regions.
The opening match gives both teams an opportunity to assess their revised combinations ahead of future international assignments.
For Pakistan, attention will centre on Farhan’s leadership and the performance of a reshaped T20 side, while Sri Lanka will look to establish consistency under Mendis.
The match is scheduled for 6:00pm tonight, with no toss result or playing XI confirmed at the time of publication.
