Ashish Ranjan
The schedule for Pakistan’s impending tour of Sri Lanka has been released, with a two-match Test series between the two teams scheduled. The first Test is scheduled to be played from July 16 to July 20 at the Galle International Cricket Stadium in Galle, while the second Test is scheduled to begin on July 24 at the Singhalese Sports Club in the capital city, Colombo.
With the impending series, both Pakistan and Sri Lanka will embark on a two-year journey in the World Test Championship and hope to get off to a winning start. The selection committee has already announced a formidable sixteen-man squad for the tour, which will be led by Pakistan’s customary captain Babar Azam.
The tour will mark the return of left-arm pacer Shaheen Afridi, while batsman Mohammad Huraira and all-rounder Aamer Jamal have been selected for their first Tests. Last year was the last time Shaheen donned the whites for the Babar Azam-led squad in Sri Lanka. Since making his debut in the UAE against New Zealand in December 2018, he has played in 25 Tests. The left-arm seamer has taken 99 wickets at an impressive average of 24.86 in the longest format of the game.
The Lankan Lions, on the other hand, have not announced their team for the series and are currently competing for a place in the upcoming ODI World Cup in India, which is scheduled to be played in India in October and November. Only one encounter has been played by the Dasun Shanaka-led squad in the ongoing ODI World Cup Qualifier in Zimbabwe.
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They defeated the UAE by a colossal 175 runs in a Group match in Bulawayo on June 19. The star of the game for the island nation was leg spinner Wanindu Hasaranga, who scored 23 runs unbeaten off 12 deliveries and took six wickets while allowing just 24 runs in eight overs.
| 1st Test | July 16-20 | Galle International Cricket Stadium, Galle |
| 2nd Test | July 24-28 | Singhalese Cricket Club Ground, Colombo |
