Sri Lanka have named their 15-player squad for a three-match T20I series against Pakistan, the opening leg of a tour that runs in Rawalpindi on October 9, 11 and 13. Kusal Mendis returns to lead the side, but the squad is missing two significant names: opener Pathum Nissanka and spin-bowling all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga have both been ruled out through injury.
Sri Lanka's full group is: Kusal Mendis (c), Kamil Mishara, Sineth Jayawardena, Lahiru Udara, Sahan Arachchige, Kamindu Mendis, Dasun Shanaka, Chamindu Wickramasinghe, Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth, Dushmantha Chameera, Binura Fernando, Nuwan Thushara and Eshan Malinga. The group leans heavily on spin and all-round depth — Wellalage, Theekshana and Viyaskanth give Mendis three frontline spin options — for conditions in Rawalpindi that have traditionally offered something for slower bowlers.
Nissanka has been ruled out with a right-leg strain, while Hasaranga is missing with lower-back pain he picked up during a practice session ahead of Sri Lanka's first ODI against England last month. Neither injury has been described as long-term: both players are reportedly targeting a return for the ODI tri-series involving Sri Lanka, Pakistan and England that starts October 18, subject to how their fitness assessments go over the coming fortnight.
The T20Is are only the first part of a demanding assignment for Sri Lanka in Pakistan. After the three Rawalpindi matches, the two sides are joined by England for a five-match ODI tri-series from October 18-31, before Sri Lanka return in November for a two-Test series against Pakistan that forms part of the ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 cycle. Missing the T20Is is therefore a far smaller concern for Nissanka and Hasaranga than missing the white-ball tri-series or the Tests would be, which is likely part of the calculation behind resting both now rather than risking a longer layoff.
Without two of their most established white-ball names, Sri Lanka's batting order leans more heavily on Kamindu Mendis, Dasun Shanaka and the returning captain himself, while the bowling attack's control will depend on how well Theekshana, Wellalage and the uncapped-at-the-highest-level Viyaskanth combine against a Pakistan side playing at home. For a Sri Lankan camp managing form and fitness across a near six-week tour, fielding a settled XI without its first-choice opener and premier spin-bowling all-rounder is a real test of squad depth before the bigger white-ball and red-ball assignments later in the trip.
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Squad details, injury information and the tour schedule in this article are verified against same-day and freshly re-checked reporting, current as of October 6, 2026.
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