3rd T20I | Pakistan vs Sri Lanka T20I Series | Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium | 13 October 2026

Sahibzada Farhan and Maaz Sadaqat carry Pakistan’s batting into Rawalpindi, while Maheesh Theekshana and Eshan Malinga lead Sri Lanka’s attack. Babar and Shaheen are missing from the group, with no reason given, and Farhan now captains in place of Salman Ali Agha. Kusal Mendis leads the visitors after a hamstring problem kept him out of the England T20Is. The hosts won the opener and then piled up 215 for 3 in the second game, which sets a high bar for the visitors. 

Farhan Steps Into the Captaincy 

Sahibzada Farhan has taken over from Salman Ali Agha, and his form backs the decision. Before the series, he held 1,305 T20I runs from 46 matches at a strike rate of 137. He then added 89 off 53 balls and 73 off 44, which is why every plan against Pakistan starts with him. 

The missing stars shape the story. Babar and Shaheen are absent; no reason has been given, and both sit in the squad for the ODI tri-series. That leaves a batting order short of experience at the top, and it puts extra weight on Farhan to bat deep into the innings. 

Sadaqat Supplies the Fireworks 

Maaz Sadaqat has made the biggest impression besides his captain. His 50 off 29 balls helped Pakistan reach 187 for 6 in the opener, and he followed it with 96 off 51 as the hosts piled up 215 for 3 in the second game. 

Depth sits behind them. Fakhar Zaman owns 2,494 T20I runs, Saim Ayub has 1,271, and the debutant Imran Randhawa finished with 2 for 21 in his first outing. 

Pakistan vs Sri Lanka 3rd T20I key players 

The match-ups are clearer than the squad lists suggest. Pakistan edged the Rawalpindi head-to-head 2-1 before this series began. The table below groups the eight names who have shaped the first two games, using recent form and one career marker for each. 

Farhan and Sadaqat carry the batting threat, with Naseem Shah and Abrar Ahmed as the home bowling hopes. For the visitors, Mendis and Mishara hold the top order, with Theekshana and Malinga as the wicket-takers. 

Mendis Returns to a Shaken Top Order 

Kusal Mendis leads Sri Lanka after sitting out the England T20Is with a hamstring problem, a period in which Asalanka captained. He came back in decent touch from the ODIs, with 46 not out, 121 off 100 and 198 runs across that series. His single in the first T20I against Pakistan shows how quickly the format punishes a slow start. 

Kamil Mishara needs runs at the other end. He made 10 and 0 in the England T20Is and 6 off 13 in the opener here, though he did strike 108 off 55 balls in the LPL 2026. Udara held the visitors together with 91 in the first game as they reached 182 for 8. 

Spin and Pace Pressure Points 

Maheesh Theekshana has 83 T20I wickets at an economy of 7.08, yet he conceded 36 for 2 and then 55 for 1 against Pakistan after going wicketless for 27 against England. Eshan Malinga has been busier, taking 2 for 33 and 1 for 41 here after returns of 1 for 41 and 1 for 27 against England. 

Chameera sat out the second match after taking a wicket in each of two England games, so a recall would be a talking point. For the hosts, Naseem’s 3 for 36 in the opener set the tone. Weighing all of it and the Pakistan vs Sri Lanka 3rd T20I key players debate comes down to whether Sri Lanka’s bowlers can contain Farhan and Sadaqat for long enough.                                                                                                                                                                            

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Who is captaining Pakistan in the third T20I?

Sahibzada Farhan captains Pakistan, replacing Salman Ali Agha. He arrives with 89 off 53 balls and 73 off 44 in this series, so the added responsibility has not weighed on his batting. 

Who leads Sri Lanka in the third T20I?

Kusal Mendis leads Sri Lanka in Rawalpindi. He missed the England T20Is with a hamstring injury, when Asalanka captained, and returned with 121 off 100 balls in the ODIs. 

Where is the third T20I being played?

The match is at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on 13 October. Pakistan led the ground’s head-to-head 2-1 before this series began, which gives the hosts a modest but real edge. 

Are Babar and Shaheen playing in the third T20I?

Neither is in the T20I group, and no reason has been given. Both are part of the squad for the ODI tri-series, which suggests a planned absence. 

Who is Pakistan’s leading run-scorer in this series?

Sahibzada Farhan tops Pakistan’s list with 162 runs. He made 89 and 73, ahead of Maaz Sadaqat, who has 146 so far from his scores of 50 and 96.