Pakistan vs Sri Lanka 1st T20I Preview: 6 pm Start in Rawalpindi, Dry Forecast

Pakistan play Sri Lanka in the 1st T20I on Friday 9 October 2026 at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, starting at 6:00 pm PKT. PMD expects mainly dry weather across most of Pakistan that day. When these teams last met in Rawalpindi, in November 2025, Pakistan won two of the three games.

We checked the start time on the official PCB ticket website, read the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) weekly outlook issued on 6 October, and opened PCB's own scorecards for the three Rawalpindi games of last year's tri-series. PCB's 29 September release gave us the match officials.

The squads are already covered in detail, so this preview does not list them again. It covers what is new: the conditions, the recent record at this ground and the people in charge on Friday.

The first T20I starts at 6:00 pm on Friday 9 October

The 1st T20I between Pakistan and Sri Lanka begins at 6:00 pm Pakistan time on Friday 9 October at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. The PCB ticket website lists the same 6:00 pm start for the 2nd and 3rd T20Is on 11 and 13 October.

Sahibzada Farhan leads a 15-man side named on 5 October, and the full Pakistan T20I squad against Sri Lanka does not include Babar Azam or Shaheen Shah Afridi, who play only the ODIs. Sri Lanka named their 15 on 2 October, and the Sri Lanka T20I squad for the Pakistan tour has Kusal Mendis as captain.

Pakistan won two of three T20Is against Sri Lanka in Rawalpindi last year

Pakistan and Sri Lanka played three T20Is at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium in the tri-series of November 2025, and Pakistan won two, including the final. The team batting second won two of the three games.

The scores swung a long way. Sri Lanka made 184 in one game and 114 in another on the same ground within a week. So do not read too much into a single first-innings total on Friday.

Mohammad Nawaz was player of the match in both Pakistan wins, but he is not in this squad. Dushmantha Chameera won the award in Sri Lanka's win. He is in Sri Lanka's current squad, marked "subject to fitness" by Sri Lanka Cricket.

We have not given an all-time head-to-head record. We could not find one on an official board page, so we have left it out rather than guess.

Pakistan arrive with an Asian Games silver medal

Pakistan's last T20 game before this series was the Asian Games final in Japan on 3 October, which India won by 19 runs. India made 211 for 6 and Pakistan replied with 192 for 6, according to Radio Pakistan. The Asian Games cricket final result gave Pakistan silver.

Seven players from that Asian Games side are not in the T20I squad, and seven new names come in, mostly experienced players. Spin looks like Pakistan's strongest suit. Abrar Ahmed reached No. 1 in the ICC men's T20I bowling rankings on 23 September, PCB said, overtaking Afghanistan's Rashid Khan for the first time in his career.

Sri Lanka arrived in Islamabad on 5 October, Radio Pakistan reported, and they stay for a long tour: three T20Is, then the ODI tri-series with England from 18 to 31 October, then two Tests from 9 November.

PMD expects mainly dry weather on match day

PMD's weekly outlook, issued on 6 October, forecasts mainly dry weather in most of Pakistan on Friday 9 October. It expects isolated rain only in upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Kashmir and nearby hilly areas, not in Rawalpindi.

The days before are wetter. PMD expected rain, wind and thunderstorms in the Potohar region, including Rawalpindi, on 6 and 7 October, with isolated hail or heavy rain possible. Thursday 8 October is forecast mainly dry. That gives the ground staff a day to dry the outfield before Friday.

For the 2nd T20I on Sunday 11 October, PMD lists isolated rain in upper and central Punjab. An outlook issued five days ahead can change, so check the official PMD forecast again on match morning.

Rashid Riaz and Nasir Hussain will umpire the 1st T20I

Rashid Riaz Waqar and Nasir Hussain are the on-field umpires for Friday's game, PCB said on 29 September. Faisal Khan Aafreedi is the third umpire, Tariq Rasheed the fourth umpire, and Ali Naqvi the match referee for all three T20Is.

Here is how to get ready if you are watching, at the ground or at home:

1. Check the PMD forecast on Friday morning, since rain on 6 and 7 October may leave the area damp.
2. If you are going, buy online or at a TCS centre; prices for the 1st T20I run from Rs 300 to Rs 25,000, as set out in PCB's ticket prices for the T20Is.
3. Carry your original CNIC or passport, which the ticket website says is needed for entry.
4. Read the entry rules and banned items in the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium guide before you leave.
5. If you are at home, PCB had not named a broadcaster when we checked; the options to watch Pakistan vs Sri Lanka T20 live list the rights holder and apps.

Common questions

What time does the Pakistan vs Sri Lanka 1st T20I start?

6:00 pm PKT on Friday 9 October 2026. That is the time shown on the official PCB ticket website.

Where is the 1st T20I being played?

At Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. The 2nd and 3rd T20Is on 11 and 13 October are at the same ground.

Will rain affect the 1st T20I in Rawalpindi?

PMD's outlook issued on 6 October expects mainly dry weather on 9 October, with rain only in upper KP, Kashmir and nearby hills. Check again on match day.

Who won the last Pakistan vs Sri Lanka T20I in Rawalpindi?

Pakistan. They beat Sri Lanka by 6 wickets in the tri-series final on 29 November 2025, after bowling Sri Lanka out for 114.

Who are the umpires for the 1st T20I?

Rashid Riaz Waqar and Nasir Hussain on the field, Faisal Khan Aafreedi as third umpire and Tariq Rasheed as fourth umpire. Ali Naqvi is the match referee.

Who is captaining Pakistan and Sri Lanka?

Sahibzada Farhan captains Pakistan and Kusal Mendis captains Sri Lanka.

How we verified this

What we checked, where we read it, and what we could not confirm.

Last checked 7 October 2026, about 2:30 am PKT. The start time is from the PCB ticket website. The weather is from the PMD weekly outlook issued on 6 October 2026. Match officials are from PCB's release of 29 September 2026, and Abrar Ahmed's ranking from PCB's release of 23 September 2026. The November 2025 results are from PCB's official scorecards for the Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe tri-series. The Asian Games final score and Sri Lanka's arrival are from Radio Pakistan. Our own observations: the batting-second record and the spread of scores.