Pakistan made an immediate impact in the opening T20I of their tour of Sri Lanka, dismissing in‑form batter Kamil Mishara for a duck as the hosts stumbled to 13/1 in the third over at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium on Wednesday, January 7, 2026.
Score: Sri Lanka 84/5 in 13overs.
Pakistan (Playing XI): Saim Ayub, Sahibzada Farhan, Salman Agha(c), Fakhar Zaman, Usman Khan(w), Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Salman Mirza and Abrar Ahmed.
Winning the toss, Pakistan opted to bowl first under breezy conditions that aided swing. Right‑arm pacer Salman Mirza provided the breakthrough, removing Mishara with a full delivery that was lofted straight to Salman Agha at mid‑off. The dismissal silenced the home crowd and gave Pakistan early momentum.
Pak vs SL live streaming and tv channels
There is no telecast in India, while PTV Sports will broadcast in Pakistan, and the live stream is available on the Tapmad website and app
THE BATTLE BEGINS! 🔥 Green shirts roll into Dambulla with tri-series glory, but the Lions want revenge! Two titans collide in the 1st T20 as World Cup prep heats up! ⚡ Who's taking this one?
Watch the match live in HD and without ads only on tapmad!#SLvsPAK | #tapmad pic.twitter.com/c0MKV9rMFt
— tapmad (@tapmadtv) January 7, 2026
Matches are broadcast on Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation (SLRC) and Dialog TV.
Streaming: Available on Sri Lanka Cricket’s official YouTube channel and partner apps.
Sri Lanka’s opener Pathum Nissanka looked composed, striking two boundaries in his 12 runs off 11 balls. Partner Kusal Mendis joined him at the crease, tasked with stabilizing the innings after the early setback. With strong winds sweeping across the ground, batting remained tricky against Pakistan’s disciplined pace attack.
Mohammad Wasim Jr supported Mirza with a tight spell, conceding just five runs in his first over. Pakistan’s bowlers exploited the conditions well, keeping Sri Lanka’s scoring rate at just over five runs per over.
The match is crucial for both sides as they prepare for the ICC T20 World Cup later this year. Sri Lanka will rely on skipper Dasun Shanaka and their middle order to rebuild, while Pakistan aims to restrict the hosts to a score below par at this venue.
Since both these teams will play in Sri Lanka for the T20 World Cup 2026 matches, this series is going to be a good practice session to know the pitches and conditions. Hopefully both these teams qualify for the further rounds of the big torutnament.
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