After more than 10 years, Test cricket will return to Pakistan when Sri Lanka will play their World Test Championship matches in Rawalpindi and Karachi.
The first Test will be played at the Pindi Cricket Stadium from 11-15 December, while the second Test will be held at the National Stadium from 19-23 December.
Originally, Sri Lanka were scheduled to play Tests in October and then return in December for white-ball cricket, but the matches were swapped to provide them the opportunity to assess the situation before deciding on the Test venues.
The Test series schedule was confirmed after Cricket Sri Lanka gave their thumbs-up to fulfill their Future Tours Programme commitment following a highly successful visit for white-ball cricket. The tour not only delivered security from the top draw, but packed houses sent out a loud and clear message about the security situation in the country as well as passion for the game.
Tour schedule:
11-15 December – 1st Test, Pindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi
19-23 December – 2nd Test, National Stadium, Karachi
Squads:
Pakistan:
Azhar Ali, Mohammad Abbas, Shaheen Afridi, Fawad Alam, Abid Ali, Babar Azam, Kashif Bhatti, Imran Khan, Shan Masood, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Asad Shafiq ,Naseem Shah, Yasir Shah, Usman Shinwari, Haris Sohail, Imam-ul-Haq.
Sri Lanka:
Dimuth Karunaratne (c), Dinesh Chandimal, Niroshan Dickwella, Lasith Embuldeniya, Asitha Fernando, Oshada Fernando, Vishwa Fernando, Lahiru Kumara, Angelo Mathews, Kusal Mendis, Dilruwan Perera, Kusal Perera (wk), Kasun Rajitha, Lakshan Sandakan, Dhananjaya de Silva, Lahiru Thirimanne.