Shadab Khan marked his T20I comeback with a Player of the Match performance against Sri Lanka, stressing that international returns mean starting from zero and focusing on one step at a time. Shadab Khan admitted that making a comeback in international cricket is never easy, insisting that players have to “start from zero” all over again. On Wednesday, the leg-spinner marked his return to T20Is after a six-month absence in the opening match of the three-game series against Sri Lanka in Dambulla.
Shadab Khan delivered a match-winning performance to earn the Player of the Match award as Pakistan surged to a commanding six-wicket victory and took a 1–0 lead in the series. He finished with figures of 4-0-25-2, helping restrict the hosts to 128 in 19.2 overs, before chipping in with an unbeaten 18 off 12 balls to seal the chase with 20 balls to spare.
Pitch Report and Toss
Pitch Report: “It is pitch number 8; 68 meters all around. There has been a lot of moisture in the last week. The ground staff have done a terrific job. It will be a bit two-paced. The average first innings score is 164. There must be something in it for everyone,” reckons Jon Kent.
Toss: Pakistan skipper Salman Ali Agha won the toss and chose to bowl with Shadab Khan into the Playing XI after a long time in International cricket. Srilanka skipper Dasun Shanaka batting first is playing with 7 batters and 4 specialist bowlers in the Playing XI.
Shadab Khan, Abrar Ahmed and Salman Mirza’s solid bowling restricts SL to 128 all out in 20 overs
Given the rain concerns, the pitch had been under covers for the last couple of days. When Salman Agha opted to bowl after winning the toss, he expected his bowlers to make use of the moisture in the surface. He wasn’t let down. Mirza and Mohammad Wasim largely bowled good lines and lengths, and with some balls skidding through and some holding into the pitch, the run scoring wasn’t easy.
When the Sri Lanka openers, Kamil Mishara and Pathum Nissanka, tried to attack, they lost their wickets. As a result, Sri Lanka could manage only 35 for 2 in the powerplay.
Shadab Khan’s spell was a study in control, variation and sharp cricketing intelligence. Introduced just as Sri Lanka looked to build momentum, the leg-spinner immediately imposed himself with flight and subtle changes of pace. His first breakthrough came against Kusal Mendis, who was tempted into a premeditated sweep.
Shadab Khan smartly slowed the delivery, dragged the length fuller and allowed the ball to dip and sneak under the bat, trapping Mendis plumb in front. It was a dismissal born of patience and deception.
Moments later, he struck again, this time with the googly. Dhananjaya de Silva, expecting turn away, went for the drive as the ball spun back in, taking a faint inside edge that Usman Khan held on to. Even outside the wickets, Shadab Khan kept batters guessing—mixing flight, skid and turn, beating Liyanage repeatedly with sharp leg-breaks. Though he conceded the odd boundary, Shadab’s spell broke Sri Lanka’s rhythm and firmly tilted the game Pakistan’s way.
Playing his first match for Pakistan since June 2025, Shadab Khan didn’t take long to make an impact. With his third ball, he trapped Kusal Mendis lbw. Two balls later, he had Dhananjaya de Silva caught behind with a googly. De Silva, who was playing his first T20I since the 2024 T20 World Cup, made a run-a-ball 10.
At times, Shadab Khan turned his leg break square. In his third over, he should have had Janith Liyanage caught at long-on. However, Farhan not only dropped the catch but also parried the ball for a six. Still, Shadab Khan finished with 2 for 25 from his four. Abrar Ahmed, introduced in the 12th over, also struck in his first over. Shadab Khan had Charith Asalanka caught behind to make it 72 for 5. Shadab Khan also had Liyanage dropped off his bowling; this time Mirza grassed a chance at short fine leg.
Janith Liyanage rode his luck and added 38 off 23 balls with Wanindu Hasaranga for the sixth wicket. The pair was severe on Mohammad Nawaz, taking 16 off him in the 15th over.
At 106 for 5 with five overs to go and Dasun Shanaka yet to bat, Sri Lanka must have had their sights on 150. But Abrar got rid of Hasaranga and Liyanage in his successive overs. From there on, the end was swift. Mirza and Wasim shared the last three wickets to wrap up the innings.
Sahibzada Farhan’s half century powers Pakistan to 6 wickets win over Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka had hit their first six in the tenth over of the innings, Pakistan off the tenth ball. Maheesh Theekshana bowled one full outside off and Ayub launched him over extra cover. In the next over, Farhan took Pakistan’s six tally to three with back-to-back hits off Nuwan Thushara. Sri Lanka, in their whole innings, had managed only two.
The pitch had eased out by then but at the same time, the Sri Lanka bowlers showed none of the discipline of their counterparts. Theekshana did bowl Ayub in the sixth over but Sri Lanka needed much more than that.
While chasing 129 runs, opener Sahibzada Farhan smashed a fantastic half-century. He made 51 runs off 36 deliveries with the help of four boundaries in two sixes. Saim Ayub scored 24 off 18 deliveries, with the help of three fours and one six, as Pakistan won the clash by six wickets. For Sri Lanka, Maheesh Theekshana (1/31 in four overs), Dushmantha Chameera (1/34 in four overs), Wanindu Hasaranga (1/17 in four overs), and Dhananjaya de Silva (1/4 in two overs).
Presentations and Road Ahead
Salman Ali Agha the winning Pakistan skipper said: I wasn’t expecting dew because of the weather earlier in the day. There was a lot of dew after the first 5-6 overs of the second innings. I thought 150 was going to be a challenging total looking at the way the ball was holding up in the first innings.
But after looking at dew in the second innings, I thought 170-odd was needed. We know what we need to do in the World Cup. We know our roles. I want the team to field well, that’s the area we need to improve on. I need to work on playing full tosses, that has become a weakness.
Dasun Shanaka the losing Sri Lanka skipper said: When we play T20 cricket it (the toss) is vital, setting up total is not easy especially on these surfaces, but no excuses, we didn’t get the start we wanted and something we have to address in the coming games.
There was a time where we recovered very well, Janith and Hasaranga were going well, but Janith’s wicket was crucial, we had to score at least 150 on that track, that’s the reason we lost.
(if conditions changed in the second innings as they were not able to sustain the pressure) It depends on the approach, we have to hunt more, there was no buzz around the team, other teams come hard at us and we need to respond with the same intensity – particularly in home conditions.
We always come up with a plan, we play Thushara because he gets wickets up front even though we have Chameera, the momentum shifted in the powerplay today as he had a bad day.
Shadab Khan Player of the Match for his all-round show said: When you are coming back from an injury, it’s always tough to play at the international level. You are starting from zero. Very happy with today’s result. Playing in Big Bash helped me. I got confidence in my bowling and batting.
I tried to do simple things. The surface was helping me. You have to assess the conditions. The ball was holding a bit so I tried to bowl a little fuller. As a player you always want to play at the highest level (about the upcoming T20 World Cup). Our team did so well. Mirza and Wasim set the tone for us. It made things easier for us spinners.
A dominant performance by Pakistan as they registered a comprehensive six-wicket win against Sri Lanka in the first T20I of the three-match series at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium in Dambulla. With this win, the Men in Green took a 1-0 lead in the series. Veteran all-rounder Shadab Khan was named Player of the Match for his impactful all-round performance.
Pakistan flexed their muscle in the first T20I in Dambulla, beating Sri Lanka by six wickets with 20 balls to spare. The win was set up by their bowling unit. On a two-paced pitch, Salman Mirza and Abrar Ahmed picked up three wickets each and a returning Shadab Khan two. Sri Lanka’s innings never got going. Sent in, they found themselves on 38 for 4 in the seventh over. They recovered to reach 127 for 6 in the 18th but lost the last four wickets for the addition of just one more run.
In reply, Sahibzada Farhan and Saim Ayub gave Pakistan a start of 59 in 5.5 overs. Ayub fell for 24 but Farhan carried on, bringing up his fifty off 35 balls. Pakistan did lose three quick wickets when they were around 100 but by then, the result was all but decided. Shadab scored a quick 18 not out off 12 balls and picked up the Player-of-the-Match award.
A commanding all-round performance by Pakistan as they race to a 1-0 lead in the three-match T20I series, executing their plans with clinical precision. From winning the toss to closing out the chase, they controlled the game at every stage.
The new-ball pair of Wasim and Salman Mirza struck early, removing Sri Lanka’s openers inside the powerplay and immediately putting the visitors on the back foot. Under sustained pressure, Sri Lanka never found rhythm or stability, with partnerships failing to take shape and wickets tumbling at regular intervals.
Their innings slowly fizzled out at a below-par 128 – a total that never looked threatening. Salman Mirza and Abrar Ahmed led the bowling effort with three wickets each, ensuring there was no late resistance. In reply, Pakistan approached the chase with clear intent, the openers attacking from the outset to seize early momentum.
Farhan then provided composure and control through the middle overs as he notched up his fifty to put Pakistan in further control. The visitors lost a few wickets in the middle overs, but got home within 16.4 overs, completing an authoritative win.
A completely one-sided contest to kick off the three-match T20I series. Pakistan have opened the new year in emphatic style and will be keen to carry this momentum into the remaining two games. Sri Lanka, meanwhile, have plenty to address across all departments if they are to mount a comeback in the series.
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