Sri Lanka vs Pakistan 1st T20 Match Prediction: Sri Lanka is set to play a three-match T20I series against Pakistan this week in Dambulla. The first T20I match will be played on Wednesday, January 7th, at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium. Let's discuss who will win today's SL vs PAK match.
Sri Lanka is currently ranked 8th in the ICC Men's T20I Team Rankings with a rating of 228. Sri Lanka is in good form in T20I cricket. They recently reached the final of the tri-series held in Pakistan but ultimately lost to the host nation. Sri Lanka has selected a strong squad for the T20I series against Pakistan and is expected to perform well in the upcoming matches.
Pakistan is currently ranked 7th in the ICC Men's T20I Team Rankings with a rating of 235. Pakistan is in excellent form. They recently won the tri-series played at home.
Most of their players, including Fakhar Zaman, Saim Ayub, Sahibzada Farhan, and Salman Mirza, are in top form and are expected to perform exceptionally well for Pakistan in the upcoming matches.
SL vs PAK (Sri Lanka vs Pakistan) Match Details
| Match | Sri Lanka vs Pakistan (SL vs PAK) |
| Series | Pakistan tour of Sri Lanka, 2026 |
| Date | Wednesday, 7th January 2026 |
| Time | 07:00 PM (IST) - 01:30 PM (GMT) |
| Venue | Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium, Dambulla, Sri Lanka |
SL vs PAK Match Pitch Report
The Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium is offering a balanced pitch for today's SL vs PAK first T20I, which will initially assist seamers with the new ball and then become more favorable to spinners as the pitch dries out and the surface offers more grip.
The dry pitch will provide less bounce and turn for spinners in the middle overs, while fast bowlers will benefit from early seam movement under cloudy conditions. Batsmen will need to play cautiously against spin, and once set, the true bounce will aid strokeplay.
Teams batting first have won 6 out of 9 matches played here, with the average first-innings score ranging between 143 and 160; a score of 170+ proves competitive. Chasing becomes difficult later in the innings due to the dominance of spin.
Also Read: How to Watch SL vs PAK 1st T20 Match, Live Streaming and Telecast, January 7, 2026
Who will win today's match between Sri Lanka vs Pakistan?
Aaj ka SL vs PAK match kon jeetega: Pakistan has a slight edge in today's first T20I against Sri Lanka at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium.
Pakistan recently won the tri-series final against Sri Lanka by six wickets and has won three of its last five T20I matches. Sri Lanka reached that final, but despite home advantage and the presence of strong players like Pathum Nissanka and Wanindu Hasaranga, their batting looked vulnerable.
In head-to-head T20I encounters, Pakistan leads 16-11 and has dominated recent matches, including a seven-wicket victory earlier in the tri-series. The Dambulla pitch is well-suited to both teams' spin-heavy attacks, but Pakistan's in-form top order, featuring players like Saim Ayub and Sahibzada Farhan, gives them an advantage.
