Kusal Mendis to captain 15-member Sri Lanka squad for Pakistan T20Is
Synopsis
Kusal Mendis captains a 15-man Sri Lanka side for Pakistan T20Is starting 9 October in Rawalpindi — without the injured Pathum Nissanka and Wanindu Hasaranga. The T20Is are just the opening act of a six-week multi-format tour that also includes an England tri-series and two ICC World Test Championship Tests.
Key Takeaways
Kusal Mendis will captain a 15-member Sri Lanka squad for the three T20Is against Pakistan in Rawalpindi on 9, 11, and 13 October .
The full tour runs from 9 October to 21 November , spanning T20Is, a five-match ODI tri-series with England, and two WTC Tests.
Pathum Nissanka and Wanindu Hasaranga are ruled out with injuries, targeting returns for the ODI tri-series subject to fitness clearances.
Mendis scored 198 runs in three innings on the England tour, including a 121 in the second ODI.
Asitha Fernando took seven wickets in the ODI series against England, the most by any Sri Lanka bowler.
Arachchige , Jayawardena , and Viyaskanth will first play a bronze-medal match at the Asian Games on 3 October before joining the tour party.
Kusal Mendis will lead a 15-member Sri Lanka squad for the three-match T20I series against Pakistan, scheduled in Rawalpindi from 9 October 2026. The T20Is mark the opening leg of a demanding multi-format tour that runs through 21 November, covering three formats across six weeks.
Full Tour Structure
All three T20Is will be played at Rawalpindi on 9, 11, and 13 October. Following the T20Is, the two sides will contest a five-match ODI tri-series also involving England, before a two-match Test series brings the tour to a close. The Tests form part of the ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 cycle, adding extra stakes beyond a bilateral contest.
Batting Depth and Leadership
Mendis heads a batting unit featuring Kamil Mishara, Sineth Jayawardena, Lahiru Udara, Sahan Arachchige, Kamindu Mendis, Dasun Shanaka, and Chamindu Wickramasinghe. The skipper arrives in strong form after accumulating 198 runs across three outings on Sri Lanka's recent England tour, including a top score of 121 in the second ODI.
Bowling Resources
The spin department is anchored by Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, and Vijayakanth Viyaskanth. The pace battery comprises Dushmantha Chameera, Binura Fernando, Nuwan Thushara, and Eshan Malinga. Asitha Fernando, who finished as the leading wicket-taker in the ODI series against England with seven scalps, is included and adds proven firepower to the attack.
Asian Games Overlap and Injury Absences
Three squad members — Sahan Arachchige, Sineth Jayawardena, and Vijayakanth Viyaskanth — are committed to Sri Lanka's Asian Games campaign, contesting a bronze-medal match on 3 October before linking up with the touring party. Their availability for the opening T20I will depend on travel logistics. Meanwhile, Pathum Nissanka and Wanindu Hasaranga have both been ruled out with injuries; the pair are reportedly targeting returns for the ODI tri-series, subject to fitness clearances.
Squad in Full
Kusal Mendis (captain), Kamil Mishara, Sineth Jayawardena, Lahiru Udara, Sahan Arachchige, Kamindu Mendis, Dasun Shanaka, Chamindu Wickramasinghe, Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth, Dushmantha Chameera, Binura Fernando, Nuwan Thushara, Eshan Malinga.
With the World Test Championship points and a tri-series involving England also in the frame, the coming six weeks represent one of Sri Lanka's most consequential overseas stints of the cycle.
Point of View
But the T20I squad selection also reveals a deeper structural question: with three players fresh from an Asian Games bronze-medal match, the touring party faces a condensed transition that could affect preparation for the series opener on 9 October. The broader six-week tour, which folds in a WTC Test series, is the kind of schedule that exposes thin squads — and Sri Lanka's depth will be tested as much as their talent.
NationPress
2 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is captaining Sri Lanka in the T20I series against Pakistan?
Kusal Mendis will captain Sri Lanka in the three-match T20I series against Pakistan. He led the batting charts on Sri Lanka's recent England tour, scoring 198 runs including a century.
Where will the Sri Lanka vs Pakistan T20Is be played?
All three T20Is will be played in Rawalpindi, Pakistan. The matches are scheduled on 9, 11, and 13 October 2026.
Which Sri Lanka players are injured and unavailable for the T20Is?
Pathum Nissanka and Wanindu Hasaranga have both been ruled out of the T20I series due to injuries. Both players are reportedly targeting a return for the ODI tri-series, subject to fitness clearances.
What other matches are part of Sri Lanka's tour of Pakistan?
After the T20Is, Sri Lanka will play a five-match ODI tri-series also involving England, followed by a two-match Test series against Pakistan. The Tests are part of the ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 cycle, and the full tour runs until 21 November.
Who are the key bowlers in Sri Lanka's T20I squad?
The spin attack is led by Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, and Vijayakanth Viyaskanth. The pace options include Dushmantha Chameera, Binura Fernando, Nuwan Thushara, and Eshan Malinga, with Asitha Fernando — who took seven wickets in the England ODI series — adding further depth.
