Second Sri Lanka vs Pakistan T20I abandoned as rain washes out Dambulla fixture
Cricket
Rain washed out the second Sri Lanka vs Pakistan T20I in Dambulla, leaving Pakistan 1-0 ahead with the final match set for Sunday.
DAMBULLA (Dunya News) – The second T20I between Sri Lanka and Pakistan in Dambulla was abandoned without a ball being bowled after persistent rain made play impossible at the Rangiri International Stadium.
Heavy showers before the scheduled start left the outfield soaked, forcing officials to keep the entire ground under covers as conditions failed to improve.
The toss, which had already been delayed due to wet weather, could not take place, and match officials later confirmed that the fixture had been called off. The washout means Pakistan maintain their 1-0 lead in the three-match series following their six-wicket victory in the opening game.
Match abandoned
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) January 9, 2026
2nd T20I between Pakistan and Sri Lanka in Dambulla called off due to rain #SLvPAK #BackTheBoysInGreen pic.twitter.com/tP0ASJjnyl
Pakistan had taken control of the series on Wednesday with a composed chase in the first T20I, where they overhauled Sri Lanka’s total of 128 in just 16.4 overs. Sahibzada Farhan’s half-century and a disciplined bowling display led by Salman Mirza and Abrar Ahmed had given the visitors a commanding start to their ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 preparations.
Sri Lanka had been eager to respond after struggling to put runs on the board in the opener, where Janith Liyanage top-scored with 40 and the middle order failed to build sustained partnerships. However, the weather ensured that the hosts were denied the opportunity to level the series in front of their home crowd.
Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by six wickets in T20I series opener
The abandoned match leaves the final T20I on Sunday in Dambulla as the decisive fixture of the series. With Pakistan holding a narrow advantage, the last game will determine whether the visitors secure the series outright or Sri Lanka force a share of honours.
Both sides are using the series to evaluate squad depth and combinations ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, with Sri Lanka set to co-host the tournament alongside India. The shortened series has added extra significance to the final match, which now carries all the pressure of a series decider.
