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The Sri Lanka National Cricket Team Vs Pakistan National Cricket Team Timeline is filled with memorable matches, major tournaments, dramatic finishes and some of the finest players in Asian cricket history. Sri Lanka and Pakistan have been regular opponents across Tests, ODIs and T20Is for decades, with their rivalry becoming particularly important in Asia Cup and ICC tournaments.
The two teams first met in international cricket during the 1970s, before Sri Lanka became a full Test-playing nation in 1981. Their first Test meeting came in 1982, when Pakistan hosted Sri Lanka in Karachi. Pakistan won that match by 204 runs.
Since then, the rivalry has produced everything from Pakistan’s dominance in early World Cups to Sri Lanka’s famous Asia Cup victories and Pakistan’s successful comeback in major tournaments. The latest major men’s international meeting came on February 28, 2026, when Pakistan defeated Sri Lanka by five runs in a thrilling T20 World Cup Super Eight match at Pallekele.
Sri Lanka Vs Pakistan Cricket Timeline at a Glance
| Year/Period | Major Event | Result/Significance |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 | First World Cup meeting | Pakistan won by 192 runs |
| 1982 | First Test between the teams | Pakistan won by 204 runs |
| 1986 | Test in Sri Lanka | Sri Lanka recorded their first Test win over Pakistan |
| 1996 | World Cup era | Sri Lanka emerged as world champions |
| 2000 | Asia Cup era | Pakistan and Sri Lanka continued their major rivalry |
| 2009 | Sri Lanka tour of Pakistan | Sri Lanka won ODI series 3-2 |
| 2014 | Asia Cup final | Sri Lanka beat Pakistan by 5 wickets |
| 2015 | Pakistan tour of Sri Lanka | Pakistan won ODI series 3-2 |
| 2017 | Champions Trophy | Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by 3 wickets |
| 2019 | Pakistan home ODI series | Pakistan won 2-0 |
| 2022 | Asia Cup final | Sri Lanka beat Pakistan by 23 runs |
| 2023 | Asia Cup | Sri Lanka defeated Pakistan in a last-over thriller |
| 2025 | Pakistan home ODI series | Pakistan won 3-0 |
| 2026 | T20 World Cup Super Eight | Pakistan won by 5 runs |
1975: First World Cup Meeting
One of the earliest major encounters between Sri Lanka and Pakistan came at the inaugural Cricket World Cup in 1975. Pakistan recorded a convincing 192-run victory.
Pakistan posted 330/6 from their 60 overs, with Sadiq Mohammad, Majid Khan and Zaheer Abbas making major contributions. Sri Lanka were then bowled out for 138.
The match established Pakistan’s early advantage in World Cup meetings between the two sides. According to the ICC’s historical review, Pakistan went on to win all seven World Cup matches against Sri Lanka that had taken place through the 2011 tournament.
1982: The First Test Match
Sri Lanka became the eighth Test-playing nation in July 1981 and played their first Test against England in February 1982. Later that year, Sri Lanka travelled to Pakistan for their first Test series against Pakistan.
The first Test between Pakistan and Sri Lanka was played at Karachi from March 5 to March 10, 1982. Pakistan won by 204 runs after scoring 396 and 301/4 declared, while Sri Lanka made 344 and 149.
Pakistan also won the third Test at Lahore by an innings and 102 runs, while the Faisalabad Test ended in a draw. The three-match series therefore finished 2-0 in Pakistan’s favour.
1985–86: Sri Lanka Record Their First Test Win
The mid-1980s produced an important development in the rivalry. Pakistan continued to perform strongly, winning two Tests during Sri Lanka’s 1985-86 tour of Pakistan.
However, when Pakistan later toured Sri Lanka, the hosts finally registered their first Test victory against Pakistan. Sri Lanka won the second Test at Colombo Cricket Club Ground by eight wickets in March 1986.
The series ended 1-1, with one Test drawn, and gave Sri Lanka an important early success against one of the established Test nations.
1990s: A Growing Asian Rivalry
During the 1990s, Sri Lanka’s cricket team developed into a powerful limited-overs side. Pakistan, meanwhile, remained one of the strongest teams in Asian cricket.
The 1996 World Cup was especially important for Sri Lanka. Hosted by India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, the tournament ended with Sri Lanka winning their first men’s World Cup title.
Although the famous 1996 tournament is remembered primarily for Sri Lanka’s explosive batting and eventual championship, the wider decade marked the beginning of a more competitive rivalry between Sri Lanka and Pakistan.
2004–06: Competitive Test Cricket
The Test rivalry became more evenly contested during the 2000s.
In 2004, Sri Lanka won the first Test in Faisalabad by 201 runs, before Pakistan won the second Test in Karachi by six wickets. The series ended 1-1.
Pakistan then won the second Test during the 2006 series in Sri Lanka by eight wickets, while the first match ended in a draw.
These series showed that neither side could rely on the dominance seen during some of the earlier encounters.
2009: A Strong Sri Lankan ODI Performance
The 2009 series between Sri Lanka and Pakistan was one of the notable bilateral ODI contests of the decade.
Sri Lanka won the first ODI in Dambulla by 36 runs after making 232. Pakistan’s lower order threatened to make the chase interesting, but Sri Lanka eventually completed the victory.
Sri Lanka went on to win the third ODI in Dambulla by six wickets, with Mahela Jayawardena scoring a superb 123. His century helped Sri Lanka chase Pakistan’s 288/8 with 21 balls remaining. The victory gave Sri Lanka an unassailable 3-0 lead and marked their first ODI series win against Pakistan on home soil.
The series eventually finished 3-2 in Sri Lanka’s favour.
2014: Sri Lanka Win the Asia Cup Final
The 2014 Asia Cup final remains one of the most memorable Sri Lanka-Pakistan matches.
Pakistan batted first and recovered from 18/3 thanks to Misbah-ul-Haq and Fawad Alam. Umar Akmal’s aggressive 59 helped Pakistan reach 260.
Sri Lanka’s response was led by Lahiru Thirimanne and Mahela Jayawardene. The pair built a 156-run partnership, with Thirimanne scoring 101 and Jayawardene making 75.
Sri Lanka eventually chased down the target and won by five wickets, securing the Asia Cup title.
This match remains an important part of the Sri Lanka National Cricket Team Vs Pakistan National Cricket Team Timeline because it combined pressure, high-quality batting and a major tournament trophy.
2015: Pakistan Win the ODI Series in Sri Lanka
Pakistan responded strongly when they toured Sri Lanka in 2015.
By the fourth ODI, Pakistan had already taken a decisive 3-1 series lead. Ahmed Shehzad scored 95 while Mohammad Hafeez made 70 as Pakistan chased Sri Lanka’s 256/9 in only 40.5 overs.
Pakistan eventually won the five-match ODI series 3-2.
The series was another example of the rivalry shifting between the two sides depending on conditions and format.
2017: Champions Trophy Thriller
One of the most dramatic modern encounters took place during the ICC Champions Trophy in Cardiff in June 2017.
Sri Lanka were bowled out for 236, with Pakistan’s left-arm pace attack doing considerable damage. Pakistan’s chase initially appeared comfortable at 92/1, but the innings then collapsed to 162/7.
Sarfraz Ahmed and Mohammad Amir rescued Pakistan. Sarfraz remained unbeaten on 61 and Amir scored 28 not out as Pakistan reached the target with three wickets remaining.
The victory sent Pakistan into the Champions Trophy semi-finals.
Sri Lanka’s fielding mistakes, including a crucial dropped catch involving Sarfraz, became one of the major talking points of the match.
2019: Pakistan Return to the Top in ODI Cricket
Sri Lanka toured Pakistan in 2019 for a three-match ODI series. The first ODI in Karachi was abandoned because of rain, but Pakistan won the remaining two matches to take the series 2-0.
This was an important series because it represented Sri Lanka’s return to Pakistan for a bilateral ODI series after a long gap. Pakistan’s home advantage proved decisive.
2022: Sri Lanka Win the Asia Cup Final
The 2022 Asia Cup final provided another major chapter in the rivalry.
Sri Lanka, after losing their opening match of the tournament, produced a remarkable turnaround and reached the final against Pakistan.
Sri Lanka posted a competitive total and then defended it successfully, beating Pakistan by 23 runs to win the Asia Cup.
The victory was particularly memorable because Sri Lanka entered the tournament during a difficult period but finished as champions.
2023: Asia Cup Last-Over Thriller
The 2023 Asia Cup produced another memorable Sri Lanka-Pakistan encounter.
The teams met in a Super Four match that effectively became a virtual qualification contest for the final. Sri Lanka needed to chase a revised target of 252 in 42 overs.
Charith Asalanka kept his composure in the final over and guided Sri Lanka to victory with two runs from the final ball. Sri Lanka won by two wickets and advanced to the final against India.
This was one of the closest finishes in the modern history of the rivalry.
2025: Pakistan Sweep the ODI Series
Pakistan hosted Sri Lanka for a three-match ODI series in November 2025. Pakistan won all three matches and completed a 3-0 series sweep. The Pakistan Cricket Board confirmed that the series was played in Rawalpindi from November 11 to 15.
In the first ODI, Pakistan scored 299/5 and Sri Lanka responded with 293/9. Pakistan won by six runs, with Salman Ali Agha scoring 105 and Haris Rauf taking four wickets.
The clean sweep gave Pakistan considerable momentum heading into the following T20I meetings.
2026: Pakistan Win a T20 World Cup Thriller
The latest major chapter in the timeline came at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup on February 28, 2026.
Pakistan batted first at Pallekele and posted 212/8. Sahibzada Farhan produced a spectacular century, scoring 100 from 60 balls, while Fakhar Zaman contributed 84 from 42.
Sri Lanka made a strong response and scored 207/6 in their 20 overs. Dasun Shanaka’s 76 from 31 balls gave Sri Lanka hope until the final stages.
Pakistan held their nerve to win by five runs. Farhan was named Player of the Match. The ICC scorecard confirms Pakistan’s 212/8 against Sri Lanka’s 207/6.
This match currently stands as the latest completed men’s international meeting between Sri Lanka and Pakistan.
Sri Lanka Vs Pakistan Major Results Timeline
| Year | Competition/Series | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 | World Cup | Pakistan won by 192 runs |
| 1982 | Test series | Pakistan won 2-0 |
| 1986 | Test series | Series drawn 1-1 |
| 2004 | Test series | Series drawn 1-1 |
| 2009 | ODI series | Sri Lanka won 3-2 |
| 2014 | Asia Cup final | Sri Lanka won by 5 wickets |
| 2015 | ODI series | Pakistan won 3-2 |
| 2017 | Champions Trophy | Pakistan won by 3 wickets |
| 2019 | ODI series | Pakistan won 2-0 |
| 2022 | Asia Cup final | Sri Lanka won by 23 runs |
| 2023 | Asia Cup Super Four | Sri Lanka won by 2 wickets |
| 2025 | ODI series | Pakistan won 3-0 |
| 2026 | T20 World Cup Super Eight | Pakistan won by 5 runs |
The Rivalry Across Major Tournaments
Sri Lanka and Pakistan have met regularly in the biggest Asian and ICC competitions.
The World Cup history has historically favoured Pakistan. The ICC noted in its World Cup retrospective that Pakistan won all seven World Cup meetings with Sri Lanka through the 2011 tournament.
The Asia Cup has been much more competitive. Sri Lanka have produced several important wins against Pakistan, including the 2014 and 2022 finals and the dramatic 2023 Super Four encounter.
The Champions Trophy also produced a memorable Pakistan victory in 2017, when Sarfraz Ahmed’s team survived a late collapse to win by three wickets.
Sri Lanka National Cricket Team Vs Pakistan National Cricket Team Timeline Summary
The history of Sri Lanka and Pakistan cricket can broadly be divided into several phases.
The early years were dominated by Pakistan, particularly in Tests and World Cup matches. Sri Lanka’s rise as a major cricketing nation during the 1990s changed the balance of the rivalry.
During the 2000s, both teams enjoyed periods of dominance. Sri Lanka produced outstanding performances in Tests and ODIs, while Pakistan remained particularly dangerous in limited-overs cricket.
The 2010s brought several major tournament clashes. Sri Lanka won the 2014 Asia Cup final, Pakistan responded with important victories in 2015 and 2017, and Sri Lanka then won the 2022 Asia Cup final.
The 2023 Asia Cup produced one of the closest recent finishes, while Pakistan’s 3-0 ODI sweep in 2025 strengthened their recent record.
The latest T20 World Cup meeting in 2026 once again demonstrated how competitive the two sides can be. Pakistan’s 212/8 was only just enough, as Sri Lanka finished on 207/6.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did Sri Lanka and Pakistan first play cricket against each other?
Sri Lanka and Pakistan were already meeting in international limited-overs cricket before Sri Lanka became a Test nation. Their first Test was played in Karachi in March 1982, with Pakistan winning by 204 runs.
When did Sri Lanka record their first Test win over Pakistan?
Sri Lanka recorded their first Test victory over Pakistan in March 1986 at the Colombo Cricket Club Ground, winning by eight wickets.
Who won the 2014 Asia Cup final between Sri Lanka and Pakistan?
Sri Lanka won the 2014 Asia Cup final by five wickets after chasing Pakistan’s 260. Lahiru Thirimanne scored 101 and Mahela Jayawardene made 75.
Who won the 2017 Champions Trophy match between Sri Lanka and Pakistan?
Pakistan won the 2017 Champions Trophy encounter by three wickets. Sarfraz Ahmed scored an unbeaten 61 during Pakistan’s successful chase.
Who won the 2022 Asia Cup final?
Sri Lanka defeated Pakistan by 23 runs in the 2022 Asia Cup final to become champions.
Who won the Sri Lanka vs Pakistan Asia Cup match in 2023?
Sri Lanka won the 2023 Asia Cup Super Four match by two wickets in a last-over thriller. Charith Asalanka scored the winning runs from the final ball.
Who won the Sri Lanka vs Pakistan ODI series in 2025?
Pakistan won the three-match ODI series 3-0 in November 2025.
Who won the latest Sri Lanka vs Pakistan men’s international match?
Pakistan won the latest completed men’s international against Sri Lanka by five runs in the 2026 T20 World Cup Super Eight stage. Pakistan scored 212/8 and Sri Lanka made 207/6.
Who scored a century in the latest Sri Lanka vs Pakistan match?
Pakistan’s Sahibzada Farhan scored 100 from 60 balls in the 2026 T20 World Cup match. He was named Player of the Match.
Conclusion
The Sri Lanka National Cricket Team Vs Pakistan National Cricket Team Timeline covers more than four decades of international cricket and includes some of the most memorable matches between two leading Asian teams.
Pakistan dominated many of the early encounters, including their first Test series and their early World Cup meetings. Sri Lanka gradually became a major force and produced landmark victories, particularly in the Asia Cup.
The 2014 Asia Cup final, 2017 Champions Trophy thriller, 2022 Asia Cup final and 2023 Asia Cup last-over finish are among the defining modern matches between the sides.
More recently, Pakistan won the 2025 ODI series 3-0 and followed that with a narrow five-run victory over Sri Lanka in the 2026 T20 World Cup. The latest contest once again showed that even when one team has the advantage on paper, Sri Lanka-Pakistan matches can remain close until the final overs.
With both teams continuing to compete across ICC tournaments and bilateral series, the Sri Lanka National Cricket Team Vs Pakistan National Cricket Team Timeline is still being written.
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