Sri Lanka cricket team arrives in Islamabad ahead of Pakistan T20I series

ISLAMABAD: The first group of Sri Lanka’s cricket team has arrived in Islamabad for the much-anticipated T20I series against Pakistan, marking the beginning of the visitors’ tour.

A 13-member contingent reached the Pakistani capital and received a warm welcome at the airport. The group includes eight players from Sri Lanka’s T20 squad along with five members of the team management.

The remaining five players are scheduled to arrive in Islamabad on Tuesday, completing the touring squad ahead of the three-match series.

The visit is set to produce an exciting contest between the two South Asian sides, with both teams preparing for a closely watched T20I battle in Pakistan.

The opening match of the series will be played at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Friday, October 9. The same venue will host the second and third matches on October 11 and 13, respectively.

With the entire series being staged in Rawalpindi, the arrival of the Sri Lankan contingent provides the first clear sign that preparations are moving into their final phase.

The visitors will now have time to settle in, complete their preparations and adjust to local conditions before taking on Pakistan in the opening T20I.

The series is expected to attract significant attention from cricket fans in Pakistan, particularly with all three matches scheduled at the same venue.

Sri Lanka’s arrival also adds another chapter to the cricketing ties between the two countries, as Pakistan continues to host international teams on home soil.

With the first match only days away, attention will now turn to team combinations, training sessions and the final arrival of the Sri Lankan squad before the opening clash.