PAK vs SL 2026: First Test match preview

Another crucial tour in the World Test Championship 2025-27 will get underway on Monday, November 09, as Pakistan (PAK) and Sri Lanka (SL) will take on each other in the first Test of the two-match series, scheduled to be held at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.

Pakistan have had some underwhelming showing in the format recently. Their 3-0 whitewash against England worsened their case for a place in the WTC Final 2027. A loss in the upcoming fixture would officially eliminate them from the competition, something that is only mathematically possible ahead of the encounter. The Babar Azam-led side would thus want to give it their all in the series opener.

Sri Lanka, on the other hand, are slightly better than Pakistan in terms of their WTC standing. However, they are still seventh, and only convincing wins in the rest of the fixtures could help them break into the top two. While their qualification is still a distant dream, the Lankan Lions will be looking to put up a dominant show in Rawalpindi.

PAK vs SL: Match Details

Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium: Pitch Report

Four out of the five preceding red-ball encounters played at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium have been won by the team batting in the fourth innings. This clearly suggests that the pitch offers help to the batters even as the match moves into the fourth or fifth day. The surface here is mostly flat, and the bowlers will not get any significant help and will have to force the batters into making mistakes to strike breakthroughs.

PAK vs SL: Head-to-Head Record in Tests

PAK vs SL: Predicted Playing 11s

Pakistan

Saim Ayub, Sameer Minhas, Babar Azam (C), Saud Shakeel, Salman Ali Agha, Arafat Minhas, Mohammad Taha, Ghaza Ghori (WK), Aamer Jamal, Razaullah, Saqib Khan

Sri Lanka

Lahiru Udara, Pasindu Sooriyabandara, Dinesh Chandimal, Kusal Mendis (C & WK), Kamindu Mendis, Sonal Dinusha, Dhananjaya de Silva, Prabath Jayasuriya, Milan Rathnayaka, Lahiru Kumara, Asitha Fernando