Pakistan vs Sri Lanka Showdown: Live Score, Highlights & Winner Updates for the Crucial Asia Cup Clash

Rawalpindi set for high-stakes showdown as Pakistan and Sri Lanka lock horns in decisive 3rd T20I Pakistan’s resurgent batting unit will aim to seal the series when they meet Sri Lanka in the third and final T20I at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Tuesday, 13 October 2026, 06:00 PM local time. After crushing the visitors by 82 runs in the second game, the hosts have levelled the three-match contest 1-1 and injected fresh intrigue into one of Asia’s most compelling rivalries. Pakistan riding on record powerplay • Power-packed start: In Game 2, openers Fakhar Zaman (71 off 34) and Saim Ayub (49 off 24) blasted 87 inside seven overs, propelling Pakistan to 215/3 — their highest T20I total at Rawalpindi. • Captain’s class: Babar Azam’s unbeaten 57 not only anchored the finish but also pushed the skipper beyond 16,000 international runs, a milestone reached in just 378 innings — the fastest for a Pakistani batter. • Bowling boost: Teenage quick Ubaid Shah grabbed 3-19, exploiting evening dew with lethal yorkers, while Shadab Khan’s leg-spin (2-18) strangled the middle overs. Sri Lanka seek batting reboot Chamika Karunaratne’s counter-attacking 38* provided lone resistance as Sri Lanka crawled to 133/7. Coach Chris Silverwood has hinted at drafting in big-hitting opener Pathum Nissanka to spark the powerplay and reuniting the Hasaranga-Theekshana spin duo for extra grip on a surface that favours turn after sunset. Key match-ups to watch 1. Babar Azam vs Wanindu Hasaranga: The Pakistani maestro strikes at just 102 against the wrist-spinner; breaking that stranglehold could decide the middle overs. 2. Shaheen Afridi vs Kusal Mendis: Afridi’s inswing has dismissed Mendis four times in five T20Is; an early breakthrough would again expose Sri Lanka’s middle order. 3. Fakhar Zaman vs Powerplay pace: Fakhar’s scoring rate of 10.4 runs per over this series makes him the X-factor Pakistan crave at the top. Pitch & conditions Rawalpindi’s red-soil strip has produced 180-plus totals in four of the last six T20Is. With clear skies forecast and a rapid outfield, another run-fest looms. Chasing sides have won six of the past nine games here, so the toss could prove decisive. Where to watch & live stream • TV: PTV Sports (Pakistan), Dialog TV (Sri Lanka), Star Sports Select (India) • Online: Tamasha, Daraz Live, Sri Lanka Cricket YouTube (geo-blocked), ICC.tv (selected regions) • Radio: FM 106.2 (Pak), SLBC Radio (SL) Probable XIs Pakistan: Saim Ayub, Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Iftikhar Ahmed, Azam Khan, Shadab Khan, Imad Wasim, Shaheen Afridi, Ubaid Shah, Haris Rauf Sri Lanka: Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis (wk), Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dasun Shanaka (c), Chamika Karunaratne, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Dilshan Madushanka, Matheesha Pathirana SEO spotlight keywords: “PAK vs SL live”, “Pakistan vs Sri Lanka 3rd T20I 2026”, “Rawalpindi T20I pitch report”, “Babar Azam vs Hasaranga”, “Pakistan playing XI today”. With the series on the line and both teams eyeing critical ICC rankings points ahead of next year’s Champions Trophy, expect fireworks as Pakistan and Sri Lanka battle for bragging rights under Rawalpindi’s floodlights.