Preview: Pakistan chase T20I clean sweep against Sri Lanka in Rawalpindi

Pakistan go into the third and final T20I against Sri Lanka at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on 13 October 2026 with the series already secured. A four-wicket win on 9 October and an 82-run victory on 11 October have given Sahibzada Farhan's side a 2-0 lead, and the target now is a 3-0 sweep in Farhan's first series as full-time captain.

Where the series stands

Pakistan's batting has been the story so far. Farhan made 89 from 53 balls in the opener and 73 from 44 in the second match, while Maaz Sadaqat followed a 29-ball fifty in the first game with 96 from 51 balls in the second. Fakhar Zaman has given the innings quick starts at the top, adding 54 with Farhan in the first five overs on 9 October and helping to build a 55-run opening stand on 11 October.

With the ball, debutant fast bowler Muhammad Imran has made an immediate impression, taking two wickets in his first match and three for 11 in his second. Naseem Shah took three for 36 in the opener, and Salman Mirza struck twice in the second game.

Sri Lanka's search for answers

For Sri Lanka, Lahiru Udara's 91 from 55 balls in the first match remains the outstanding individual effort of the series, but he fell in the opening over of the second game. The visitors also slipped to 74 for six in their chase on 11 October, and captain Kusal Mendis has scored only 10 runs across the two matches. Maheesh Theekshana has been their most consistent performer, taking wickets in both games and top-scoring with the bat in the second.

Things to watch

• Sadaqat's century hunt. Having fallen four short of a maiden T20I hundred, the young opener will have another chance in familiar conditions.
• Squad rotation. With the series won, Pakistan have the option of handing more game time to others in the 15-player squad, including Asian Games semi-final performers Abdul Samad, Arafat Minhas and Sufiyan Muqeem.
• Extras. Pakistan conceded 26 extras in the first match, an area the coaching staff, including new bowling coach Shaun Tait, will want to tighten.

Squad

Pakistan: Sahibzada Farhan (captain), Abdul Samad, Abrar Ahmed, Arafat Minhas, Fakhar Zaman, Hasan Nawaz, Muhammad Imran Randhawa, Khawaja Nafay (wicketkeeper), Maaz Sadaqat, Naseem Shah, Razaullah, Saim Ayub, Salman Mirza, Shadab Khan, Sufiyan Muqeem.

Once the T20Is end, the focus switches to 50-over cricket. Shaheen Shah Afridi's ODI squad takes on Sri Lanka in the opening match of the tri-series in Rawalpindi on 18 October 2026, with England also involved and the final in Lahore on 31 October.