Pakistan and Sri Lanka are getting ready to lock horns in a two-match series, with the opening match scheduled to begin on Monday at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. In recent weeks, both teams have had plenty of action against each other, firstly playing a three-match T20I series, which Pakistan won 2-1. Later they took part in a ODI tri-series that also featured England as well. 

However, the Test assignment is a totally different format, with both teams looking to make the most of the series, keeping in mind the WTC standings. Meanwhile, this will be the first Test series between Pakistan and Sri Lanka since 2023. Moreover, their meeting in Rawalpindi also brings both sides against each other in Test cricket on Pakistani soil for the first time since 2019. 

There is an opportunity for Sri Lanka now to change their disappointing record in Pakistan after they last registered a Test victory on Pakistani soil in 2004 and have failed to win any of their subsequent five matches there. Pakistan, on the other hand, have had a difficult time in the current WTC cycle and languish at the bottom of the standings. Sri Lanka have enjoyed a far better result compared to their Pakistan as they currently occupy seventh place in the standings, having clinched one victory, suffered two defeats and completed three draws in the last six matches. Their most recent Test series was against India in August, where they lost the first Test but managed to draw the second game. 

They have managed only two victories in nine matches, and their devastating 3-0 series loss against England has compounded the problems. Babar Azam, who will lead Pakistan, will look to rediscover his form, having gone through a prolonged lean patch. So far, for Babar, it has been 40 Test innings without a century, with his last Test hundred coming against New Zealand back in December 2022.

Head-to-head

Matches - 59

PAK won - 23

SL won - 17

Drawn - 19

Pakistan possible XI: Azan Awais, Sameer Minhas, Tayyab Arif, Babar Azam (c), Saud Shakeel, Salman Agha, Ghazi Ghori (wk) Aamer Jamal, Razaullah, Mohammad Abbas, Saqib Khan

Sri Lanka possible XI: Pasindu Sooriyabandara, Lahiru Udara (wk), Dinesh Chandimal, Kamindu Mendis, Dhananjaya de Silva, Sonal Dinusha, Kusal Mendis (c), Prabath Jayasuriya, Keshara Nuwantha, Asitha Fernando, Dilshan Madushanka