The Lankan Lions will face Pakistan on January 7 in the first T20I at the Rangiri Dambulla International Cricket Stadium (RDICS) in Dambulla, followed by two more games on January 9 and 11 at the same venue to conclude the series.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The bilateral contest will provide both teams with an opportunity to familiarise themselves with the conditions for the marquee tournament. While Lanka, as co-hosts, will play their group-stage matches at home, the Men in Green will play all their World Cup matches in Sri Lanka due to cross-border tensions between India and Pakistan.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cThe Pakistan National Team will tour Sri Lanka in January 2026 to play a three-match T20I series. All matches will be played at the RDICS in Dambulla,\u201d said Sri Lanka Cricket on their Instagram as they announced the fixtures.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The PCB, meanwhile, said in their statement, \u201cThe tour will provide the side with valuable match practice ahead of next year\u2019s global event.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Pakistan have demonstrated strong performance in recent T20I cricket. Following a convincing 2-1 series win against South Africa, the Men in Green easily defeated Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe to win the T20I tri-series.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
They are placed in Group A with Namibia, the United States, the Netherlands, and arch-rivals India, beginning their T20 World Cup campaign on February 7. If they reach the semifinal and eventually the final, those matches will also be staged in Sri Lanka.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Sri Lanka, meanwhile, recently finished a three-week tour of Pakistan, during which they played three ODIs and participated in a tri-series that also included Zimbabwe.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
T20I series schedule:<\/p>\r\n\r\n
First T20I: Wednesday, January 7, Dambulla<\/p>\r\n\r\n
T20I series schedule:<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Third T20I: Sunday, January 11, Dambulla<\/p>\r\n\r\n