Pakistan is gearing up to embark on their first assignment of the 2023-25 cycle of the ICC World Test Championship as they prepare for a two-match Test series against Sri Lanka.
The series will kick off with the first Test set to take place at the esteemed Galle International Cricket Stadium in Galle, followed by the second Test scheduled at the Singhalese Sports Club in Colombo.
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To acclimatize themselves before the first Test, the Pakistan team will arrive in Sri Lanka on July 09 and engage in a two-day warm-up game on July 11 and 12. The exact venue for the warm-up fixture will be confirmed closer to the dates.
During their previous tour of Sri Lanka in July 2022, Pakistan faced a 1-1 draw in the two-match Test series. Notably, Pakistan achieved a momentous feat by successfully chasing down 342 runs in the first Test at Galle, securing a remarkable four-wicket victory. Sri Lanka, however, staged a strong comeback in the second Test, winning by a substantial margin of 246 runs to level the series.
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The Singhalese Sports Club in Colombo last witnessed Pakistan in a Test match back in 2014. Out of the six Tests held at this venue, Pakistan emerged victorious in one, suffered one defeat, and the remaining four matches concluded in draws.
Here is the itinerary for Pakistan’s tour of Sri Lanka:
July 09: Arrival of the Pakistan team in Colombo
July 11-12: Warm-up game (venue to be confirmed)
July 16-20: First Test at Galle International Cricket Stadium
July 24-28: Second Test at Singhalese Sports Club, Colombo
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The Pakistan squad for this series consists of the following players: Babar Azam (captain), Mohammad Rizwan (vice-captain and wicketkeeper), Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Hasan Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Huraira, Mohammad Nawaz, Naseem Shah, Noman Ali, Salman Ali Agha, Sarfaraz Ahmed (wicketkeeper), Saud Shakeel, Shaheen Afridi, and Shan Masood.