When you have two top teams facing each other in a tournament like the World Cup, it is always going to be an explosive thriller, and the results are expected to go either side. However, it was not the case when Sri Lanka met Pakistan in the 50-over World Cup tournaments.
The Pakistani side has won everything in the PAK vs SL clashes in the big tourney, the recent one being the 2023 Group stage clash between the Asian sides.
Let’s look into the head-to-head stats between Pakistan and Sri Lanka in the ODI World Cups, followed by the results of all their encounters.
Pakistan and Sri Lanka have met nine times in ICC ODI World Cup competitions. Pakistan has won eight of these nine games, while Sri Lanka has won none. One match ended in a “no result”.
Pakistan vs Sri Lanka: All Results In ODI World Cups
| Date | Winner | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 | Pakistan won by 192 runs | Trent Bridge, Nottingham |
| 1983 | Pakistan won by 50 runs | St Helen’s, Swansea |
| 1983 | Pakistan won by 11 runs | Headingley, Leeds |
| 1987 | Pakistan won by 15 runs | Niaz Stadium, Hyderabad (Pakistan) |
| 1987 | Pakistan won by 113 runs | Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad |
| 1992 | Pakistan won by 4 wickets | WACA Ground, Perth |
| 2011 | Pakistan won by 11 runs | R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo |
| 2019 | Match abandoned without a ball bowled | The Bristol County Ground, Bristol |
| 2023 | Pakistan won by 6 wickets | Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Uppal, Hyderabad |
1975: Trent Bridge
Pakistan’s first World Cup victory over Sri Lanka was their most convincing, with a 192-run triumph in 1975. Sadiq Mohammad (74), Majid Khan (84), and Zaheer Abbas (97) led the charge as they piled on the runs, finishing on 330 for 6 in 60 overs. They then dismissed Sri Lanka for 138 runs, winning the match by 192 runs.
Also Read | Cricket World Cup 1975: A Trip Down the Memory Lane
1983: Swansea and Leeds
The first match they played in the 1983 World Cup saw the most runs scored in tournament history, with 626 total. Batting first, Pakistan put a huge total of 338 on the board. In response, Sri Lanka could only muster 288 runs, and Pakistan won by 50 runs.
The second match was closer, but the grandeur of captain Imran Khan with the bat, who hit 102 not out, enabled Pakistan to win again, despite Asantha de Mel, Sri Lanka’s opening bowler, taking 5 wickets. While chasing the target of 236, Abdul Qadir’s 5-wicket haul kept the Sri Lankan batters in check, resulting in an 11-run win for Pakistan.
1987: Hyderabad (Pakistan) and Faisalabad
Both teams fought each other twice in the 1987 edition as well. The opening match was much closer this time, with Pakistan winning by 15 runs. Javed Miandad’s century helped Pakistan put up a competitive total of 267/6 on the board. Despite Roshan Mahanama’s hard-fought 89, Sri Lanka fell short by 15 runs.
The rematch was victorious by a much more comfortable margin of 113 runs. Batting first, Saleem Malik’s 100 powered Pakistan to 297 runs in 50 overs. Later, Pakistan’s bowlers troubled the Lankan batters at regular intervals, leaving them stranded at 184/8.
1992: Perth
The following time they met in a World Cup, it was probably one of their more meaningful games. Pakistan was struggling to reach the final rounds of the 1992 World Cup, and a dramatic four-wicket win over Sri Lanka in Perth helped them get there. Under Imran Khan’s inspired leadership, Pakistan would go on to take the World Cup trophy at the renowned Melbourne Cricket Ground.
2011: Colombo
After that spectacular match, though, there was a 19-year hiatus until the two subcontinental powers met again. Their World Cup meeting occurred in 2011 on Sri Lankan territory in Colombo, and it remains the only occasion both sides met as former World Cup winners. Despite having the home edge, Sri Lanka couldn’t break through for their maiden World Cup victory over Pakistan, with Shahid Afridi, the captain, collecting 4 wickets to give Pakistan 7 wins in 7 matches.
2019: Bristol
Sri Lanka got another chance to break the duck when the two teams met in the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup in England and Wales, but the match was abandoned without a ball being bowled.
2023: Hyderabad
In what was a high-scoring game, Pakistan registered the highest successful run chase in the ODI World Cup. After electing to bat first, Sri Lanka went on to score 344 runs thanks to Kusal Mendis’ quickfire 122 and Sadeera Samarawickrama’s 108. Pakistan put in to chase the target of 345 struggled initially, but Abdullah Shafique’s 113 and Mohammad Rizwan’s 131* took Pakistan home. This game saw 4 batters score hundreds in an ODI match.
Final Thoughts
A gripping tale of cricketing fights and unforgettable meetings has been the rivalry between Pakistan and Sri Lanka in ODI World Cups. Both sides have demonstrated their skills on the international scene over the years, with each side experiencing both wins and failures.
The figures show a one-sided competition between the two countries as they compete against one another. Sri Lanka has emerged as a serious opponent, despite the fact that Pakistan has typically prevailed in head-to-head matches.
As fans of the game, we can only look forward to more exhilarating matchups between these two cricketing titans in upcoming World Cup competitions as they continue to write new chapters in their long-running rivalry on the biggest stage of them all.
