Pak vs SL 3rd T20I: Sri Lanka bowl first in Rawalpindi as Pakistan make four changes

Pakistan are batting first in the third and final T20I against Sri Lanka at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium tonight, after Sri Lanka captain Kusal Mendis won the toss and chose to field. With the series already won 2-0, Pakistan made four changes to the side that beat Sri Lanka by 82 runs on Saturday. At 10.2 overs Pakistan were 76 for 4, according to ESPNcricinfo's live scorecard (7pm PKT).

For anyone searching "pak vs sl" tonight: the match is live on PTV Sports, with streaming on Tapmad. This page will carry the result.

Pakistan's four changes

Captain Sahibzada Farhan's side rested or left out four regulars, Dawn reported:

• Out: Shadab Khan, Saim Ayub, Naseem Shah and Abrar Ahmed.
• In: fast bowler Razaullah, who debuted in the first T20I, leg-spinner Sufiyan Moqim, all-rounder Arafat Minhas and batter Abdul Samad.

Pakistan XI: Fakhar Zaman, Sahibzada Farhan (captain), Maaz Sadaqat, Hasan Nawaz, Abdul Samad, Khawaja Nafay (wicketkeeper), Arafat Minhas, Mohammad Imran, Razaullah, Salman Mirza, Sufiyan Moqim.

Sri Lanka's one change

Sri Lanka brought in left-arm spinner Vijayakanth Viyaskanth for Maheesh Theekshana.

Sri Lanka XI: Lahiru Udara, Sineth Jayawardena, Kusal Mendis (captain), Kamindu Mendis, Sahan Arachige, Dasun Shanaka, Chamindu Wickramasinghe, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth, Eshan Malinga, Binura Fernando, Nuwan Thushara.

How the series got here

• 1st T20I, 9 October: Sri Lanka made 182 for 8, with Lahiru Udara scoring 91 off 55 balls. Pakistan chased 183 with four wickets in hand, led by Sahibzada Farhan's 89. Our report.
• 2nd T20I, 11 October: Maaz Sadaqat hit 96 off 51 balls and Farhan made 73 as Pakistan posted 215 for 3, then held Sri Lanka to 133 for 7. Our report.

A win tonight gives Farhan a 3-0 clean sweep in his first series as T20I captain. Sri Lanka, who have not won on this tour, are playing to avoid a whitewash before the two-Test series. Their Test squad, with Pathum Nissanka back and Kusal Mendis as captain, was named today: Sri Lanka Test squad vs Pakistan.

What is next for Pakistan

After this match Pakistan's home season moves on to the Tests against Sri Lanka and then the white-ball tri-series with England. All fixtures in Pakistan time are on our Pakistan cricket schedule 2026-27 page.