1st T20: Pakistan vs Sri Lanka — As it happened

E-Paper | April 28, 2026

Sri Lanka will look to prevent a clean sweep by Pakistan on the current tour when they clash in two Twenty20 Internationals in Colombo on Thursday and Saturday.

Pakistan won the preceding Test series 2-1 and also clinched the one-dayers 3-2 to earn a double triumph in the island nation for the first time since 2006.

But Sri Lanka, the reigning World T20 champions and the top-ranked side in the shortest format, get a chance to salvage pride in the two end-of-tour games at the Premadasa stadium.

Both sides wear a fresh look under new captains, with Shahid Afridi taking over for Pakistan, which is ranked fifth, and Lasith Malinga leading Sri Lanka.

Top reads:

Sri Lanka bank on new boys De Silva, Jayasuria to tackle Pakistan | A matter of stats: Pakistan’s triumph over Sri Lanka cannot be discounted | Comment: Selectors fail to show muscle over T20 squad

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Adeel

Jul 30, 2015 06:17pm

oh sarfaraz...you couldnt butter Uncle Afridi enough!!

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salim

Jul 30, 2015 06:22pm

What is sarfaraz supposed to do to retain his place in the side........Rediculous selection of umer akmal

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Adnan Jidaker

Jul 30, 2015 06:22pm

Without bowling, Hafeez is burden in T20 Squad. Exclusion of Sarfraz indicates, Afridi against start playing dirty games.

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fakhar waleed

Jul 30, 2015 06:24pm

Sir faraz should be the part of the team if merit is concerned.

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salim

Jul 30, 2015 06:25pm

What is sarfaraz supposed to do to retain his place in the side. ......... ridiculous decision to drop him

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salman khan

Jul 30, 2015 06:33pm

he is dropped bcoz we have two keepers in team and we needed an allrounder..................

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Adeel

Jul 30, 2015 06:36pm

and not long ago...sarfaraz was picked as a ODI and T20I v.captain! so much for that...

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usman

Jul 30, 2015 06:38pm

why sarfaraz is dropped??????????

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Mumtaz

Jul 30, 2015 06:52pm

Exclusion of Sarfraz is absolutely ridiculous. It shows that there is politics going on in the team

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irfan

Jul 30, 2015 07:30pm

Adeel you are right

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pakxpert

Jul 30, 2015 07:40pm

What a joke..The 'master blaster' Mukhtar Ahmed... He and master blasters... Dont insult the word..

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Ehsaan

Jul 30, 2015 07:43pm

Umar Akmal??? Really!!! Couldn't find ANYONE better??? Look at what he is doing! Does that not explain how incompetent he is?

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Sam

Jul 30, 2015 07:44pm

Sad to see Akmal play while Sarfarz sit out - Afridi thank you for bringing back controversy - we are really getting tired now.

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abdul rahim

Jul 30, 2015 08:01pm

@salman khan ,and sarfraz is.keeper n batsman ( all rounder), fits in any position .and rizwan too is keeper and batsman ( late order).this is the difference between the two. Now the choice is yours.

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Osama Shafeeqe

Jul 30, 2015 08:17pm

This is why Umar Akmal is in the team! 46 off 24 and there are still going to be people doubting why he is in the team.

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Zahid Khan

Jul 30, 2015 08:18pm

Afridi should retire from cricket... Sad Sarfarz wan't part of the squad.

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Jul 30, 2015 08:46pm

Good going Pakistan. 23/3

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Jul 30, 2015 10:01pm

Well done Pakistan! Congrats. Good start of T20 matches. Afridi needs to sort out his batting although a win is going to mask the fact. Shoaib was impressive with Saania in the crowd. May be she should visit the ground more often when hubby is in the team.

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Asif

Jul 30, 2015 10:04pm

Why Sarfraz Ahmed not in the team today? I'm shocked; dirty cricket politics in the team management.

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Ali Aslam

Jul 30, 2015 10:04pm

Congratulation Pakistani Heroes...

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Oh God

Jul 30, 2015 10:04pm

Winning and losing always show character of players and teams. This win was marred by silly attitude of Shoaib Malik's fielding and some indifference shown in last over. This is utter nonsense. Shoaib does not deserve to play the next game.

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Shahin A. Hossain

Jul 30, 2015 10:27pm

One tour, three captains and on the road to win three trophies... This is motivated Pakistan... When Riaz , a amir will join , this team will be invincible ... Congrats Green Shirts....Akmal, Malik and Shehzad were awesome... Tanvir you beauty....

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Awan

Jul 30, 2015 10:30pm

@salim Umer Akmal played very well. He had made 46. His strike rate was better than Sarfaraz this time. So rotation of star players in the team is absolutely alright. In this manner you do not have to depend on one player to perform. The team chemistry among themselves should be better as well. Moreover Shoaib Malik proved his selection as well. Only some biased people could not assess the performance otherwise they are proving their selection as the good decision.

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Shahin A. Hossain

Jul 30, 2015 10:48pm

In 2015 Malik is rocking.. His average is 94 ! And also bowling nicely.. Today in a over took one important wicket.. U Akmal is a talent. Pls don't criticise blindly. He us an asset .. The six he hit today shows his class.. Sarfaraz is good but not as talented and attacking as Akmal. 46 out of 24 is rare in Pakistan... Hafiz is a class , his presence changes the atmosphere... Don't be ridiculous.. Be objective and trust your captain as captain knows better what to do and not to do...

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saje

Jul 31, 2015 10:53am

@Shahin A. Hossain "Sarfaraz is good but not as talented and attacking as Akmal" Sarafaraz's comparison should be made with Rizwan, the wicket keeper, instead of any batsman. Sarfaraz has proven his worth both as batsman and the keeper. So there was no need to do experimentation with another keeper-cum-batsman.

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