Sri Lanka vs. Pakistan, 1st T20: Date, Time, Live Stream, TV Info, Preview

Pakistan and Sri Lanka quickly turn their focus to Twenty20 cricket as they kick off their two-match series in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on Thursday.

The visitors followed up their 2-1 Test series victory with a 3-2 triumph in the one-dayers, meaning they have the chance to sweep their hosts before heading home.

Both T20 games will be staged at the R Premadasa Stadium, with the second fixture taking place on Saturday.

Date: Thursday, 30 July

Start time: 7 p.m. local time/2:30 p.m. BST

Venue: R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo, Sri Lanka

Live stream and TV info: Ten Cricket and PTV Sports (Pakistan), Rupavahini Corporation (Sri Lanka), Zee Cinema (UK—subscription required)

Weather: Per AccuWeather, early showers should clear to allow a full game in the evening. There is a slim chance of further rain, but it will still be hot with temperatures at 27 degrees.

Overview

Sri Lanka have only lost twice in their last 13 outings in the shortest format of the game.

Their excellent run of form includes winning the ICC World Twenty20 tournament in Bangladesh in April last year, though they are now missing some notable names from the side who toppled India in the final.

With Mahela Jayawardene now retired from international cricket and Kumar Sangakkara only playing in Tests, the time has come for Sri Lanka to move on and look at other options.

The selectors have named five uncapped players in the squad for the games against Pakistan: Binura Fernando, Jeffrey Vandersay, Shehan Jayasuriya, Dasun Shanaka and Dhananjaya de Silva could all make their debuts in the series.

Chief selector Kapila Wijegunawardene said, per ESPN Cricinfo: "We need to get the younger brigade in the stream, so we have a gradual transition leading up to the next World T20 and the 50-over World Cup beyond that."

It is not all about fresh blood, though. There is a recall for Chamara Kapugedera, while Lasith Malinga, left out of the XI that played in the final one-dayer on Sunday, captains the side.

LAKRUWAN WANNIARACHCHI/Getty Images

Pakistan, meanwhile, will hope Shahid Afridi can lead them to another series success before the tour comes to an end.

The veteran all-rounder is without the services of Wahab Riaz, who had been initially named in the 15-man squad in the hope he would be fit to feature.

However, according to Sky Sports, the left-arm paceman failed to recover from a hand injury in time. Zia-ul-Haq—another left-armer—takes Wahab's place.

Although they have plenty of pace options, including the recalled Sohail Tanvir, Pakistan will also hit Sri Lanka with a plethora of slow bowlers.

Among their options is leg-spinner Yasir Shah, who took 24 wickets in the three-Test series.

He also picked up career-best figures of four for 29 in the third ODI, and his outstanding form on the trip means he is now set to play T20 cricket for his country for the first time since 2011.

Pakistan are fortunate that all-rounders Afridi and Shoaib Malik can send down some overs of spin too, though Mohammad Hafeez is playing as a batsman only after being banned from bowling, per BBC Sport.

Selector Wijegunawardene admits Sri Lanka's problems against spin are a major concern, per ESPN Cricinfo: "There is a clear weakness against spin and that needs to be addressed as a matter of priority."

They will hope some fresh faces can help turn the tables against an experienced Pakistan lineup.

Key Players

Sri Lanka

Lasith Malinga had a tough time of it in the one-day series: He took just four wickets in four matches at an average of 61.50, while he also went at 6.64 runs per over.

As captain, he now needs to lead from the front in the T20 games. The best way for him to do that is by picking up wickets.

Pakistan

Shoaib Malik impressed with both bat and ball in the five 50-over fixtures against Sri Lanka.

The all-rounder scored 188 runs, and although he didn't actually take a wicket, his off-spin only went at 4.92 runs an over. He will hope to carry that form over into the T20 arena.

Squads

Sri Lanka

Lasith Malinga (captain), Tillakaratne Dilshan, Kusal Perera, Kithruwan Vithanage, Dhananjaya de Silva, Angelo Mathews, Dasun Shanaka, Chamara Kapugedera, Shehan Jayasuriya, Thisara Perera, Jeffrey Vandersay, Nuwan Kulasekara, Binura Fernando, Chaturanga de Silva, Milinda Siriwardana

Pakistan

Shahid Afridi (captain), Ahmed Shehzad, Nauman Anwar, Mohammad Hafeez, Mukhtar Ahmed, Umar Akmal, Shoaib Malik, Mohammad Rizwan, Sarfraz Ahmed, Yasir Shah, Sohail Tanvir, Imad Wasim, Anwar Ali, Mohammad Irfan, Zia-ul-Haq