Sahibzada Farhan takes charge as Pakistan’s T20I captain for the first time on October 9, 2026, leading a youthful squad against Sri Lanka at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium after visiting captain Kusal Mendis won the toss and elected to bat.
Seventeen years after the 2009 attack on Sri Lanka’s team bus in Lahore, the visitors are back in Pakistan for six weeks of international cricket under heavy security from the Army and the Rangers. The three T20Is are followed by an ODI tri-series with England and two Tests. Pakistan walked out under the Rawalpindi floodlights on Friday with a changed lineup for the first time in years, leaving behind familiar anchors as the team begins a multi-format tour that marks the start of a preparation window ahead of the 2028 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
Sahibzada Farhan Leads New Pakistan Era in Rawalpindi
Farhan is a fitting first opponent for Sri Lanka, having hit a hundred against them eight months ago at the T20 World Cup and finishing that tournament with 383 runs—the most by any batter at a single edition. Pakistan left out senior mainstays Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi, wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan, and former T20I captain Salman Ali Agha following changes announced by selectors. Selectors ignored Mohammad Rizwan because the wicketkeeper was under investigation by the National Cyber Crime Investigation Authority after being summoned home following Pakistan’s defeat in the second Test against England at Lord’s in August. Farhan was named full-time T20I captain after leading Pakistan to a silver-medal finish at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games in Japan, where they lost to India in the final on Sunday. Former Australian fast bowler Shaun Tait was also named as Pakistan’s bowling coach after his recent stint with the Bangladesh team, replacing Ashley Noffke.
The T20 squad also features batter Hasan Nawaz, who hit 96 in the Asian Games final before being out off the final ball as Pakistan lost by 19 runs. Before the opening match, Farhan addressed the shift in personnel directly, stating that Pakistan’s top-order batters play aggressively and expressing full trust in his players and confidence that the new combination is the best and will settle in this series.
“I want the top order to bat according to the T20 mindset.”Sahibzada Farhan, Pakistan captain
Sri Lanka Opt to Bat Under Returning Kusal Mendis
Dushmantha Chameera enters the contest chasing a major milestone, needing just one more wicket to become only the third Sri Lankan to take 100 T20I wickets. The visitors are missing injured stalwarts Wanindu Hasaranga and Pathum Nissanka, while Charith Asalanka—who led them in 28 T20Is—was dropped from the touring party after leading the side in previous outings. With Hasaranga and Nissanka both injured, Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, and Vijayakanth Viyaskanth carry the spin attack, while Dushmantha Chameera, Nuwan Thushara, Binura Fernando, and Eshan Malinga form the pace seamers.
Kusal Mendis returned to captain the squad after missing the England matches due to a hamstring injury picked up in the Lanka Premier League. Speaking ahead of the match, Mendis expressed confidence in his touring group under head coach Gary Kirsten, acknowledging that while coming out of an inconsistent England series makes this a challenging tour, there were positives to carry forward.
Mendis added: I know my players’ strength… they give 100 per cent every match. I have a very good trust in my players. No doubt in anybody.
Early Breakthroughs Shape the Rawalpindi Opener
After Sri Lanka won the toss and chose to bat, Pakistan’s new bowling combination struck in the opening over. Mohammad Imran Randhawa followed up by having Kamil Mishara caught by Fakhar Zaman for six, reducing Sri Lanka to 18 for 2 in the fourth over. Razaullah came on next as the visitors slipped to 24 for 2 after 4.1 overs, before Kamindu Mendis and Lahiru Udara steadied the innings through the powerplay to push the total to 34 for 2 after five overs.
The series continues with the second and third matches scheduled at the same venue on October 11 and October 13 before a subsequent one-day international tri-series featuring England and Sri Lanka gets underway on October 18.