Sri Lanka won the toss and opted to bowl first in the opening Test of their two-match series against Pakistan, which started at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Monday. The match marks the start of a major rebuilding period for the home side, who have given Test caps to four players.
The debutants are Arafat Minhas, Mohammad Taha, Mohammad Tayyab Arif and Saqib Khan. Pakistan are hoping to turn around their fortunes in the longest format after a run of poor results.
Four debutants and a reshaped Pakistan side
The rest of Pakistan’s playing XI includes Azan Awais, Saud Shakeel, Salman Ali Agha, Ghazi Ghori, Razaullah and Mohammad Abbas. Several well-known names have been left out of the new setup, among them wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan, former captain Shan Masood, and specialist spinners Sajid Khan and Noman Ali.
Only Salman Ali Agha and Aamer Jamal have come back from the seven players who were sent home during the tour of England. Five members of the side that played in the final Test at Edgbaston have also been dropped. The wider squad features several newcomers, including batters Saad Baig and Sameer Minhas and fast bowler Ali Shabbir.
For the opening match, Pakistan have picked a pace-focused attack, which means Sajid and Noman are not in the playing XI. A cricket analysis said the selection points to a preference for conditions that suit fast bowling, while the inclusion of several all-rounders adds batting depth.
Babar Azam and Kusal Mendis look ahead to the series
Pakistan captain Babar Azam said at a press conference on Sunday that the side was ready to respond after its 3-0 defeat to England. He said the team had planned to give younger players opportunities during the England series and was now prepared to move on with a new group.
“During the England series we had planned to give new players a chance, so I am ready to fight with these young players,” Azam said. The series is Pakistan’s first Test assignment since that heavy defeat, and the overhaul that followed saw head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul dismissed in September. White-ball coach Mike Hesson was brought into the Test set-up.
Azam himself is also under pressure to find form. He has gone 40 Test innings without a century, and his last three-figure score came against New Zealand in Karachi in December 2022. He said he had played several domestic matches and believed regular cricket would help him improve. “I have played a few domestic matches and think that the more I play I will improve, so I am confident,” he said.
Sri Lanka arrive in Rawalpindi hoping to improve their recent Test record. They have gone four Tests this year without a win, although their resilient batting in a drawn match against India gave them encouragement. Kusal Mendis is leading the side in his first Test as captain, having replaced Dhananjaya de Silva last month.
Mendis said he was excited to take charge and believed his players were prepared. “We have an experienced batting line-up, so we are ready for the challenge,” he said. The visitors will rely on their experienced batters to test Pakistan’s revamped bowling attack. Sonal Dinusha, whose unbeaten 133 helped Sri Lanka secure a draw against India, is one of the players they will look to, while left-arm spinner Prabath Jayasuriya could become more influential as the pitch wears. Jayasuriya played a decisive role in Sri Lanka’s victory over Pakistan four years ago.
World Test Championship standings and Rawalpindi conditions
The series is part of the fourth cycle of the ICC World Test Championship. Pakistan are currently ninth and last in the standings, while Sri Lanka are seventh. Pakistan have won only two of their last nine Test matches.
The second Test is scheduled to begin in Lahore on November 17. The Rawalpindi surface is expected to suit batting, especially in the opening days, although conditions could change as the match goes on. Rain is forecast for Thursday, while dry weather is expected for the rest of the Test.
With four debutants in the side and several senior players absent, Pakistan face an important chance to begin a new chapter in Test cricket. Sri Lanka, for their part, will aim to take advantage of the hosts’ transition and secure an early lead in the series.
