PAK vs SL Final Match Preview – The Pakistan T20I Tri-Series 2025 reaches its climax as hosts Pakistan clash with Sri Lanka in the grand final at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Saturday, November 29th. While Pakistan finished the round-robin stage on top of the table, Sri Lanka booked their ticket to the decider with a crucial six-run victory over the hosts in the last league match, setting up a tantalizing final.
Pakistan, led by Salman Agha, has been the more consistent side throughout the tournament, securing three wins. Their batting has been spearheaded by the sensational form of Sahibzada Farhan and solid contributions from Usman Khan. However, the defeat to Sri Lanka just two days ago serves as a timely reminder that the title is far from assured.
Sri Lanka, captained by Dasun Shanaka, showed grit and determination to recover from a shaky start, with their victory in the final group match being attributed to brilliant spells from Dushmantha Chameera and a crucial innings by Kamil Mishara. Riding this wave of momentum, the islanders will be confident of replicating their 2022 Asia Cup final victory over Pakistan.
PAK vs SL Final Match Details
| Feature | Details |
| Match | Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, Final |
| Series | Pakistan T20I Tri-Series 2025 |
| Date & Time | Saturday, November 29, 2025, 06:30 PM (IST) |
| Venue | Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi |
| Live Telecast | FanCode |
PAK vs SL Final Head-to-Head Record
The historical rivalry between Pakistan and Sri Lanka in T20Is has been closely fought, though Pakistan holds a slight overall edge. Crucially, the recent final league match went Sri Lanka’s way, adding immense pressure to the hosts.
| Format | Total Matches | Pakistan Won | Sri Lanka Won | No Result |
| T20I | 26 | 15 | 11 | 0 |
PAK vs SL Final Pitch Report: Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium
The pitch at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium has consistently proven to be a batter’s track throughout the Tri-Series.
Batting Friendly: The average first innings score in the tournament has soared, highlighting the flat nature of the surface. Batters can trust the bounce and play through the line.
Spin Advantage: While it’s a high-scoring ground, the slower bowlers, particularly the finger spinners and wrist spinners, have found more success compared to the fast bowlers. Maheesh Theekshana and Mohammad Nawaz will be crucial in the middle overs.
Toss Factor: Given the evening start time in late November, the dew factor is a certainty. This usually encourages captains to bowl first to make chasing easier, though Sri Lanka successfully defended a score in the last match.
PAK vs SL Final Weather Report
The weather in Rawalpindi on the evening of the final is expected to be ideal for cricket, albeit quite cool.
Temperature: Temperatures will be cool, dropping into the low teens (around 12°C – 15°C) during the match.
Sky: Clear skies are forecasted, ensuring a full match is played without interruption.
Conditions: The cool and dry air will contribute to the formation of dew, which will significantly affect the bowlers in the second innings.
PAK vs SL Final Probable Playing11
Both teams are expected to stick close to the line-ups that brought them success in the final group games.
| Pakistan (PAK) | Sri Lanka (SL) |
| Sahibzada Farhan | Pathum Nissanka |
| Saim Ayub | Kusal Mendis (wk) |
| Babar Azam | Kamil Mishara |
| Salman Agha (c) | Kusal Perera |
| Usman Khan (wk) | Janith Liyanage |
| Fakhar Zaman | Dasun Shanaka (c) |
| Mohammad Nawaz | Wanindu Hasaranga |
| Faheem Ashraf | Dushmantha Chameera |
| Naseem Shah / Shaheen Afridi | Maheesh Theekshana |
| Salman Mirza | Nuwan Thushara |
| Abrar Ahmed | Eshan Malinga / Vijayakanth Viyaskanth |
Note for Pakistan: The decision between a full-strength pace attack (Shaheen Afridi) and a spin option (Usman Tariq or the provided Abrar Ahmed) will depend on the pitch assessment.
Note for Sri Lanka: The all-round strength of Kamindu Mendis might be considered over a specific bowler, but the current lineup maximizes their spin depth.
PAK vs SL Final Match Prediction
This final is a true toss-up, balancing Pakistan’s overall consistency against Sri Lanka’s current momentum.
Pakistan’s Strengths: Their opening pair (Farhan/Ayub) has provided good starts, and the all-round performance of Mohammad Nawaz (top wicket-taker in the series) is a major advantage. Playing at home, they will have overwhelming crowd support.
Sri Lanka’s Strengths: They possess arguably the best T20 spin duo in the world with Hasaranga and Theekshana. The form of Kamil Mishara and the match-winning pace of Dushmantha Chameera (who dismissed Babar Azam and Farhan cheaply in the last match) gives them genuine wicket-taking threats.
Given the pressure of the final and the unpredictable nature of the Rawalpindi pitch, the team that handles the middle overs better—specifically the spin bowling of both sides—will likely triumph. The recent win and the individual battles won by the Sri Lankan bowlers give them a psychological advantage.
Prediction: Sri Lanka to win the final and clinch the Pakistan T20I Tri-Series 2025.
