Pakistan Begin Training for Sri Lanka Test Series
Pakistan’s men’s cricket team held their first training session on Friday at the Islamabad Club ahead of the two-match Sri Lanka Test series at home.
Five national cricketers took part in the two-hour session: Salman Ali Agha, Mohammad Abbas, Razaullah, Arafat Minhas and Saud Shakeel. They went through batting, bowling and fielding drills under the supervision of the coaches.
Test captain Babar Azam and wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Ghazi Ghori are set to join the squad on Friday. Both have been playing in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy 2026-27, along with other squad members, and will link up with the team after their domestic commitments.
Sri Lanka Test series dates and venues
The two-match series forms part of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-27. The first Test will be played at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium from November 9 to 13. The second Test follows at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore from November 17 to 21.
Two more players will be added to Pakistan’s initial 14-member squad after the three-day practice match between PCB Patrons XI and Sri Lanka. The visitors won that warm-up game by 142 runs in Islamabad.
Sri Lanka won the warm-up match by 142 runs, with Keshara Nuwantha taking four wickets as the Patrons XI were bowled out for 111 chasing 254.
The warm-up began with Sri Lanka’s batters spending useful time at the crease. Mendis and Udara hit fifties on day one, when Sri Lanka declared on 223 for 7 with the Patrons XI 43 for 2 at stumps. The tourists resumed their second innings at 121 for 6 and were bowled out for 181, setting the Patrons XI 254 to win, before their bowlers took 20 wickets in the match to complete the win.
Rawalpindi has also introduced e-ticketing at bus stands ahead of the first Test, with the Travel Eye and Hotel Eye systems in place for the match.
Pakistan Test squad
Babar Azam (captain), Abdullah Fazal, Ali Usman, Arafat Minhas, Azan Awais, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Ghazi Ghori (wicketkeeper), Mohammad Suleman, Mohammad Taha, Razaullah, Saad Baig (wicketkeeper), Salman Ali Agha, Sameer Minhas and Saud Shakeel.
Why the series matters
The series marks Pakistan’s return to red-ball cricket at home, and it comes with the team under pressure in the World Test Championship. Pakistan have won two and lost seven of their nine matches in the current cycle, leaving them at the bottom of the table.
The home series offers a chance to steady the campaign. Rawalpindi and Lahore have both staged Tests in recent seasons, and Pakistan will look to use home conditions against a Sri Lankan side that has already spent time in the country.
The build-up has been busy. The PCB has already announced ticket prices for the first Test in Rawalpindi, with tickets on sale at TCS Express Centres in Rawalpindi and Islamabad.
Pakistan’s young players have also been in form. Usman Khan’s unbeaten 139 helped Pakistan beat the UAE by nine wickets in their U19 Asia Cup opener, while the senior side’s focus now turns to the longest format.
Elsewhere in Test cricket, the West Indies are pressing home their advantage against Bangladesh, with Hasan Mahmud’s six wickets putting them on top in Sylhet.
When does the series start?
The first Test starts on November 9 at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. The second Test starts on November 17 at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.
Who took part in the first training session?
Salman Ali Agha, Mohammad Abbas, Razaullah, Arafat Minhas and Saud Shakeel trained at the Islamabad Club on Friday.
Who is in Pakistan’s squad?
Babar Azam captains a 14-member squad, with two more players to be added after the warm-up match against Sri Lanka.
Is the series part of the World Test Championship?
Yes. Both Tests are part of the ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 cycle.
