Pakistan and Sri Lanka open their men’s T20I series on Friday, 9 October 2026 at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. The exact-ground record offers no automatic high-score promise: Pakistan made 195/5 against Zimbabwe in one 2025 T20I, while New Zealand were all out for 90 against Pakistan in April 2024. Outcomes depend on the particular innings, opponents and bowling, not the stadium name alone.
The 14 completed men’s T20Is at this ground through 7 October 2026 produced a 153.57 arithmetic first-innings mean. Chasing sides won ten of those games. These are historical descriptions, not a forecast of the 9 October strip or a toss instruction; the actual surface and weather need match-day confirmation.
Match Schedule
| Fixture | Venue / format | Date | Start |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, 1st T20I | Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium · Men’s T20I | Friday, 9 October 2026 | 8:00 PM Pakistan · 3:00 PM GMT · 8:30 PM IST |
The Pakistan Cricket Board lists this as the first of three Rawalpindi T20Is, with the others on 11 and 13 October. The ICC’s Sri Lanka squad update confirms the same dates and ground. The match-centre start is 8:00 PM local (Pakistan time). The captains named in the 5 October PCB and 2 October ICC announcements are Sahibzada Farhan and Kusal Mendis; a squad is not a confirmed playing XI.
Rawalpindi T20I Pitch Report
Rawalpindi’s recent men’s T20I scores cover a wide range. In November 2025, Pakistan defended 195/5 against Zimbabwe, who made 126 all out; four days later Sri Lanka made 184/5 against Pakistan, who replied with 178/7. Yet Pakistan’s 2025 tri-series final against Sri Lanka finished at Sri Lanka 114 all out and Pakistan 118/4. The April 2024 Pakistan–New Zealand match was lower still: New Zealand 90 all out, Pakistan 92/3.
Those games support an analysis of batting opportunity and wicket-taking pressure. They do not prove the next wicket will be flat, two-paced or spin-friendly. A late batting surge, early wickets, fielding and the completion of a chase all affect totals. It would be misleading to recommend a universal “par score” from this set.
Ground T20I Statistics
| Measure | Record | Scope |
|---|---|---|
| Completed men’s T20Is | 14 | Exact Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium through 7 October 2026 |
| First-innings scores | 2,150 combined; mean 153.57 | 14 innings; includes a 90 all out in 18.1 overs |
| Second-innings scores | 1,975 combined; mean 141.07 | 14 innings; many successful chases ended early |
| Result split | Batting first 4; chasing 10 | Completed matches only; not a toss prediction |
| Rain no-results omitted | 2 | 20 April 2023 and 18 April 2024 |
The means are 4xSports arithmetic from the exact-ground men’s T20I list and its completed scorecards. They are not averages for domestic T20, PSL, women’s internationals, other Rawalpindi venues or full 20-over innings only. The 2023 no-result followed a hailstorm; the 2024 no-result came after only two deliveries.
Detailed Batting and Bowling Behaviour
Batting and the first six overs
A positive start has helped some teams, but not all. Pakistan’s 195/5 against Zimbabwe in November 2025 featured 74 from Babar Azam and 63 from Sahibzada Farhan. Sri Lanka’s 184/5 against Pakistan included Kamil Mishara’s 76. Those players’ past innings show what a partnership can do at this ground; they do not establish the 2026 lineup. Babar Azam is not in Pakistan’s announced T20I squad for this series.
Middle overs and wicket-taking
Both pace and spin have taken key wickets in the men’s T20I sample. Usman Tariq took 4/18 against Zimbabwe in 2025; Mohammad Nawaz recorded 3/16 against Sri Lanka; Sri Lanka’s Dushmantha Chameera took 4/20 against Pakistan. The returns belong to separate matches and bowling plans. Do not turn them into a claim that every Rawalpindi wicket must assist one type of bowler.
Chasing under lights
Ten chasing wins in 14 completed games make the result split conspicuous. But a chase of Sri Lanka’s 114 is very different from New Zealand’s 179/3 after Pakistan made 178/4 in 2024. Opponent strength, innings duration and match state vary. No historical scorecard establishes a reliable dew effect for Friday night, so any dew assessment should wait for actual observations.
Recent Completed T20Is at Rawalpindi
Upcoming Matches at the Ground
The currently announced Pakistan–Sri Lanka men’s T20I series also lists matches at this same venue on 11 and 13 October. This is one Rawalpindi T20I pitch-report URL for the series, not three near-duplicate venue pages. If the strip is inspected or the match begins, use confirmed live information to revise the same report and retain its URL.
Selected Batting Performances
These are specific innings from the exact-ground men’s T20I sample, not an all-time venue leaderboard. Pathum Nissanka made 98 not out in Sri Lanka’s 148/1 chase of Zimbabwe’s 146/5 in November 2025. Kamil Mishara’s 76 lifted Sri Lanka to 184/5 against Pakistan two days later. Sahibzada Farhan made 63 and Babar Azam 74 in Pakistan’s 195/5 against Zimbabwe. Past scorers are not automatically in the 2026 playing XI.
Selected Bowling Figures
Usman Tariq’s 4/18 came in Pakistan’s 69-run win over Zimbabwe on 23 November 2025; Dushmantha Chameera’s 4/20 helped Sri Lanka defend 184/5 against Pakistan four days later. These figures support a historical wicket-taking section, not a claim about which attack will dominate the next game.
Key Ground Records in This Sample
- Highest first innings among the 14 completed men’s T20Is: Pakistan 195/5 against Zimbabwe in November 2025.
- Lowest completed team total: New Zealand 90 all out against Pakistan in April 2024.
- Highest individual innings in the four recent cards above: Pathum Nissanka 98 not out against Zimbabwe.
- Result split: four batting-first wins, ten chasing wins in the full 14-match sample.
FAQs
What is the average first-innings T20I score at Rawalpindi?
For the 14 completed men’s T20Is in this exact-ground sample, it is 153.57 runs. It is an arithmetic mean, not an official par score.
Is Rawalpindi a chasing ground in men’s T20Is?
Chasing teams won ten of the 14 completed matches examined. That does not establish what the next toss winner should do or guarantee the same result on 9 October.
Are rain-abandoned matches included in the average?
No. The 2023 and 2024 no-results were omitted because they were not completed fixtures. The 14 completed matches remain in the result and scoring samples.
When is Pakistan vs Sri Lanka at Rawalpindi?
The first men’s T20I is scheduled for Friday, 9 October 2026, at 8:00 PM local Pakistan time (3:00 PM GMT; 8:30 PM IST). The same venue is listed for 11 and 13 October.
Editorial image: AI-assisted 4xSports illustration, not a photograph of the live strip or the upcoming match. Ground sample checked 7 October 2026.
