Pakistan host Sri Lanka in the first Test of the series at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Monday, 9 November 2026. This CricStats preview uses head-to-head records, recent form and venue data. The numbers suggest a narrow Pakistan advantage, but not a decisive one.
Head-to-Head: Pakistan Hold the Historical Edge
Pakistan and Sri Lanka have met in 59 Tests since 1982. Pakistan have won 23 and Sri Lanka 17, while 19 matches ended tied, drawn or without a result.
That gives Pakistan a win rate of roughly 39% in the fixture, against 29% for Sri Lanka. The gap is real but not large.
| All-time Tests | Matches |
|---|
| Played | 59 |
| Pakistan won | 23 |
| Sri Lanka won | 17 |
| Tied, drawn or no result | 19 |
Most Recent Meetings
Pakistan have won four of the last five meetings. Sri Lanka's only win in that span was by 246 runs at Galle in July 2022.
| Date | Result | Venue |
|---|
| 24 Jul 2023 | Pakistan won by an innings and 222 runs | Sinhalese Sports Club |
| 16 Jul 2023 | Pakistan won by 4 wickets | Galle International Stadium |
| 24 Jul 2022 | Sri Lanka won by 246 runs | Galle International Stadium |
| 16 Jul 2022 | Pakistan won by 4 wickets | Galle International Stadium |
| 19 Dec 2019 | Pakistan won by 263 runs | National Stadium |
The two sides have met twice at this venue. Across the last 10 decisive meetings, Pakistan lead 60% to 40%.
Recent Form: Both Sides Arrive Under Pressure
Neither team comes in with strong results. Pakistan have won 3 and lost 7 of their last 10 Tests, a 30% win rate. Sri Lanka have won 2 and lost 5 of their last 10, with three draws, and their recent win rate is 29%.
| Team | Last 10 (newest first) | Won | Lost |
|---|
| Pakistan | L L L W L L W L W L | 3 | 7 |
| Sri Lanka | D L D L W D L L L W | 2 | 5 |
Pakistan's Last Five
Pakistan's most recent run includes three straight defeats to England. The margins were an innings and 103 runs, 194 runs and 8 wickets. Before that, they beat West Indies by 8 wickets after losing the opening Test by 90 runs.
Sri Lanka's Last Five
Sri Lanka drew with India on 23 August after losing the previous Test by 165 runs. They also drew with West Indies on 3 July. Before that came a defeat by an innings and 217 runs on 25 June 2026.
Their last win in this window was against Bangladesh by an innings and 78 runs on 25 June 2025.
Rawalpindi Venue Profile
Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium has staged 14 completed Tests. Teams batting first have won 3 and teams chasing have won 2. The other nine matches fall into neither group.
The average first-innings total is 338. That points to a ground where runs are available, though the toss and conditions are not known at this stage.
| Venue metric | Value |
|---|
| Completed Tests | 14 |
| Won batting first | 3 |
| Won chasing | 2 |
| Average first-innings total | 338 |
Players in Form Over the Last 12 Months
Squads are not confirmed, so the players below are simply those who have performed well in Tests over the last 12 months. They are not certain starters.
Batting
Sonal Dinusha leads Sri Lanka with 595 runs in 8 innings and a best of 133. That is more than double the output of any other player in the table below, and well above Pakistan's top run-scorer.
Bowling
Mohammad Abbas has taken 21 wickets in 4 matches, the highest tally among the bowlers listed. Asitha Fernando has 17 wickets in 4 matches for Sri Lanka.
| Player | Team | Wickets | Matches |
|---|
| Mohammad Abbas | Pakistan | 21 | 4 |
| Mohammad Ali | Pakistan | 17 | 5 |
| Asitha Fernando | Sri Lanka | 17 | 4 |
| Ali Usman | Pakistan | 12 | 4 |
| Prabath Jayasuriya | Sri Lanka | 12 | 3 |
| Milan Rathnayaka | Sri Lanka | 6 | 2 |
Fixture Performers Since 2021
In this fixture since 2021, Dhananjaya de Silva has scored 447 runs in 8 innings for Sri Lanka. Abdullah Shafique has 417 in 7 innings and Babar Azam 347 in 7 for Pakistan.
With the ball, Prabath Jayasuriya leads with 26 wickets. Ramesh Mendis has 18 and Naseem Shah 16.
| Category | Player | Team | Total |
|---|
| Runs | Dhananjaya de Silva | Sri Lanka | 447 in 8 inns |
| Runs | Abdullah Shafique | Pakistan | 417 in 7 inns |
| Runs | Babar Azam | Pakistan | 347 in 7 inns |
| Wickets | Prabath Jayasuriya | Sri Lanka | 26 |
| Wickets | Ramesh Mendis | Sri Lanka | 18 |
| Wickets | Naseem Shah | Pakistan | 16 |
CricStats Data Lean and Prediction
The CricStats model combines head-to-head record with recent win rates. On those numbers, Pakistan are slight favourites at 55%, with Sri Lanka at 45%.
| Indicator | Pakistan | Sri Lanka |
|---|
| Last 10 decisive meetings | 60% | 40% |
| Recent win rate | 30% | 29% |
| CricStats data lean | 55% | 45% |
This lean reflects what the numbers suggest, not a certainty. Recent win rates are almost level, so the head-to-head record accounts for most of Pakistan's edge. Team news, conditions and the toss, none of which is confirmed, could shift the picture.