Pakistan routed Sri Lanka in the T20 tri-series final on Saturday night, November 29, 2025, by chasing down 115 with six wickets in hand. Captain Salman Agha opted to bowl first at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, where a crowd of over 15,000 witnessed the hosts’ dominance. Mohammad Nawaz starred with ball and bat, claiming three wickets in a match-turning spell. The victory capped a strong preparatory run for both teams ahead of the 2026 T20 World Cup.
This result boosts Pakistan’s confidence after a mixed year, including series wins over South Africa. For Sri Lanka, it exposes vulnerabilities in middle-overs batting against spin, a concern for their World Cup ambitions. The tri-series, featuring Zimbabwe as the third team, served as a key testing ground in South Asia’s packed cricket calendar.
Pakistan’s Bowling Attack Dismantles Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka started strongly after losing the toss. Openers Pathum Nissanka and Kamil Mishara built a 64-run stand for the first wicket. Mishara scored 59 off 47 balls, including seven fours, while Nissanka added 26. They reached 81 for one after 10 overs, eyeing a total near 170.
Pakistan’s spinners then intervened. Mohammad Nawaz, the left-arm orthodox bowler, took three for 17 in four overs. He dismissed Nissanka, caught at midwicket, and later trapped Wanindu Hasaranga lbw. Abrar Ahmed, the legspinner, claimed two for 18, including Kusal Mendis for 14. Saim Ayub, opening the batting, bowled his part-time left-arm spin for one for 17, removing Janith Liyanage.
The collapse was swift. Sri Lanka lost nine wickets for 33 runs in the last nine overs. Shaheen Shah Afridi, returning from injury, took three for 18 in three overs, including Dasun Shanaka bowled for 12. Salman Mirza mopped up with the final wicket of Dushmantha Chameera, caught behind. Sri Lanka ended on 114 all out in 19.1 overs.
Dasun Shanaka, Sri Lanka’s captain, praised his bowlers’ effort but highlighted execution flaws. “We expected the wicket to play better than this but they also bowled well in the middle overs,” Shanaka said post-match. “We couldn’t have taken some chances: right-handers getting out to the left-arm spinner and left-hander to offspinner. We need to fine-tune our game ahead of the next series. Mishara, Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Chameera, Maheesh, Hasaranga were the positives. And we showed good intent in the field.”
This performance by Pakistan’s bowlers underscores their depth in spin options, vital for subcontinental conditions. Nawaz’s figures of three for 17 restricted Sri Lanka’s scoring in the crucial phase, preventing any late surge.
Steady Chase Seals Pakistan’s Rout
Pakistan began their reply needing 115 in 20 overs. Sahibzada Farhan fell early for 4, bowled by Maheesh Theekshana. Saim Ayub and Babar Azam then steadied the innings with a 50-run partnership for the second wicket. Ayub scored 36 off 33 balls, with four fours, before edging Chameera to slip.
Babar Azam anchored the chase, remaining unbeaten on 37 off 34 balls. He hit a crucial boundary through point off Chameera to move past 30. Salman Agha, promoted up the order, scored 15 before top-edging Hasaranga to short fine leg. Fakhar Zaman added 10, caught at deep midwicket.
Usman Khan joined Babar for the unbroken fifth-wicket stand of 28. Usman finished on 3 not out, while Babar sealed the win with a single off Theekshana. Pakistan reached 115 for four in 18.4 overs, with 8.2 overs’ margin in hand.
The chase reflected calculated aggression. Pakistan’s run rate hovered around six an over, avoiding risks against Sri Lanka’s spinners. Babar’s knock, including three fours, exemplified his role as stabiliser. Pakistan beats Sri Lanka by 6 wickets T20 final in a manner that highlighted their adaptability.
Mohammad Nawaz, named player of the match and series, reflected on his all-round impact. “To deliver when the team requires you is very important,” Nawaz said. “I plan with the coaches and try to keep it simple because as a fingerspinner, you don’t have many options. So I try to read the game and bowl accordingly. Speaking on his batting, he said: ‘I try to see what the situations demands: to build a partnership or attack. So I try to play accordingly.’”
Nawaz contributed 8 not out lower down, but his bowling proved decisive. His series haul of nine wickets at an economy of 5.2 earned him the top honours.
Mohammad Nawaz Stars in Pakistan T20 Tri-Series Win
Nawaz emerged as the standout performer across the tournament. In five matches, he took nine wickets and scored 72 runs at a strike rate of 120. His variations, including the arm ball, troubled Sri Lankan batters repeatedly. In the final, his spell from the 11th over broke the momentum after the powerplay.
Salman Agha, Pakistan’s captain, lauded the team’s cohesion. “It was a great performance from us,” Agha said. “This has been very good two months for us, against South Africa and Sri Lanka. We have been doing well in both ODIs and T20Is. Before going to the World Cup, you want your 15 ready. If anything happens to your main players, you want to have the back-up ready. So we are giving chances to everyone. I think we are pretty much ready for the World Cup. We still have six games before the World Cup to try out things if we want but think we are pretty much clear on our 15 players.”
Agha’s leadership shone in rotations. He bowled his off-spin for one for 22, and his batting cameo kept the required rate in check. The win marks Pakistan’s second tri-series title in three years, following the 2023 edition against New Zealand and Bangladesh.
Sri Lanka’s fielding showed intent, with three catches in the deep, but dropped chances off Ayub cost them. Their bowlers, led by Chameera’s one for 21, fought back but lacked penetration. Hasaranga took one for 28, including Agha’s wicket, but leaked runs in the death.
Background: T20 Tri-Series Final as World Cup Primer
The Pakistan T20I Tri-Series 2025 ran from November 17 to 29, hosted entirely at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. Initially planned with Afghanistan, the series saw Zimbabwe replace them after the Afghanistan Cricket Board withdrew on October 17 due to cross-border tensions. The Pakistan Cricket Board confirmed the change swiftly, ensuring the tournament proceeded.
Zimbabwe struggled, losing all three matches: by 10 wickets to Pakistan, 67 runs to Sri Lanka, and another defeat earlier. Sri Lanka topped the table with two wins and one loss, setting up the final against Pakistan, who finished second.
Security remained a focus after an November 11 attack near an Islamabad court complex prompted Sri Lankan player concerns. Consultations between Sri Lanka Cricket, PCB, and officials led to enhanced measures, allowing the tour to continue.
The series featured debuts like Eshan Malinga for Sri Lanka and Usman Tariq’s hat-trick for Pakistan against Zimbabwe. Attendance averaged 12,000 per match, reflecting cricket’s pull in Pakistan despite economic pressures. Total prize money stood at USD 300,000, with Pakistan claiming USD 150,000.
This event aligns with South Asia’s bilateral cricket revival post-COVID, fostering rivalries. For Pakistan, it builds on their 3-0 T20I sweep over South Africa earlier in November. Sri Lanka, meanwhile, eyes redemption after a 3-0 ODI loss to Pakistan last week. These details draw from PCB announcements, but precise crowd numbers require stadium records.
What’s Next for Pakistan and Sri Lanka
Pakistan face New Zealand in a T20I series starting December 10 in Lahore, their last white-ball assignment before the World Cup. Sri Lanka host Bangladesh for three T20Is from December 5 in Colombo, aiming to address spin-handling issues.
Both teams target semi-final spots in the 2026 T20 World Cup, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka. Pakistan’s spin depth, evident in this rout, positions them well. Sri Lanka must bolster middle-order resilience.
Pakistan routs Sri Lanka in T20 tri-series final, affirming their status as South Asian contenders.
Published in SouthAsianDesk, November 30th, 2025
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