Pakistan vs Sri Lanka Live: Dramatic Last-Over Win, Full Scorecard, Highlights & Key Moments

RAWALPINDI – Pakistan and Sri Lanka renew their rivalry today as the first ODI of the 2025-26 bilateral series gets underway at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. Fans searching for “PAK vs SL live score”, “Pakistan vs Sri Lanka 1st ODI 2025” and “Rawalpindi ODI live streaming” will find all the key details below. Series context • This is the first Pakistan-Sri Lanka ODI series in six years; Pakistan won the previous meeting 2-0 in 2019. • Pakistan arrive on the back of a 2-1 home triumph over South Africa, while Sri Lanka carry momentum from three consecutive ODI victories against Afghanistan. Match timings & streaming • Toss: 14:00 local (09:00 GMT) • First ball: 14:30 local (09:30 GMT) • Live stream (India): Sports TV’s official YouTube channel; no linear TV telecast confirmed. • Live scores and ball-by-ball commentary: ESPNcricinfo and Cricbuzz apps. Predicted XIs Pakistan: Fakhar Zaman, Saim Ayub, Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Salman Agha, Hussain Talat, Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Afridi, Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf. Sri Lanka: Pathum Nissanka, Pavan Rathnayake, Kusal Mendis (wk), Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka (c), Kamindu Mendis, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Asitha Fernando, Dushmantha Chameera, Pramod Madushan. Head-to-head snapshot ODIs played: 90 | Sri Lanka won: 53 | Pakistan won: 36 | No result: 1. Pakistan have lost just one of their last nine home ODIs, but Sri Lanka’s spinners enjoyed success on UAE pitches earlier this year and could thrive again on the typically slow Rawalpindi surface. Players to watch • Babar Azam: Needs 71 runs to become the fastest Asian to 6000 ODI runs on home soil. • Shaheen Afridi: Fresh from a 12-wicket Test haul, the left-arm spearhead averages 18.4 in Rawalpindi. • Wanindu Hasaranga: Fit again after an ankle scare; his googly troubled Pakistan’s middle order during the 2023 Asia Cup. • Pathum Nissanka: Struck three fifties in his last four ODIs and now opens outside sub-continental conditions for the first time this season. Pitch & weather Early November evenings in Rawalpindi are mild (26 °C) with low humidity; dew is expected after sunset, prompting captains to chase. The pitch has offered new-ball nip before slowing into a spinner-friendly deck. Tactical talking points 1. Pakistan may pair Afridi and Haris Rauf with two wrist-spinners (Abrar Ahmed, Mohammad Nawaz) to exploit middle-over grip. 2. Sri Lanka’s left-right middle-order mix aims to upset Pakistan’s match-up plans and negate Afridi’s inswing. 3. Powerplay aggression: Fakhar Zaman’s strike rate (104) vs Sri Lanka could dictate early momentum, but Maheesh Theekshana’s carrom ball has dismissed him thrice in six ODIs. Why this match matters With the 2026 Champions Trophy qualification window closing soon, ICC Super League points are crucial for both sides. A strong start in Rawalpindi could define the three-match series and shape their global tournament seeding. Keep this page bookmarked for real-time “PAK vs SL live updates”, post-match analysis and exclusive player reactions as Pakistan and Sri Lanka chase an early advantage in what promises to be a tightly-fought ODI showdown.