RAWALPINDI — Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to bowl first against Pakistan in the opening Test of the two-match series at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Monday, setting the stage for a contest in which the hosts are leaning heavily on fresh talent.
Pakistan captain Babar Azam confirmed after the toss that his side would field four debutants, adding that the team would focus on playing to its strengths during the opening session. The new caps are Tayyab Arif, Mohammad Taha, Arafat Minhas and Saqib Khan.
Babar expressed confidence in the team’s combination, noting that the squad still features several experienced players who can guide the newcomers through the pressures of Test cricket.
Playing XIs
Pakistan: Azan Awais, Tayyab Arif, Mohammad Taha, Babar Azam (c), Saud Shakeel, Salman Agha, Ghazi Ghori (wk), Arafat Minhas, Razaullah, Mohammad Abbas and Saqib Khan.
Sri Lanka: Pasindu Sooriyabandara, Lahiru Udara (wk), Dinesh Chandimal, Kamindu Mendis, Dhananjaya de Silva, Sonal Dinusha, Kusal Mendis (c), Milan Rathnayake, Lahiru Kumara, Asitha Fernando and Dilshan Madushanka.
Series Schedule and Head-to-Head
The second Test between the two sides is scheduled to begin on November 17 at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium, where the tourists will look to level the series or seal a rare away triumph.
Pakistan and Sri Lanka have played 59 Test matches against each other, with Pakistan winning 23 and Sri Lanka securing 17 victories. The remaining 19 encounters ended in draws, underlining how closely matched the two sides have been over the decades.
The series marks Sri Lanka’s first Test tour of Pakistan since 2019, when the Islanders returned to the country for the longest format after a 10-year absence.
