The Pakistan vs Sri Lanka 1st Test starts with an awkward question. How do you rebuild a Test side in a few weeks? Pakistan are trying. They have new faces, a green pitch and a long list of doubts. Sri Lanka arrive quietly. Rawalpindi on Monday will show who blinks first.
Pakistan vs Sri Lanka 1st Test Preview
- Match: Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, 1st Test
- Series: Two match World Test Championship series
- Venue: Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium
- Dates: November 9 to 13, 2026
- Start time: 10:00 AM local time, 10:30 AM IST
The WTC Stakes
Pakistan sit ninth and last in the World Test Championship table. Sri Lanka are seventh. Neither side can afford a slow start. Every point matters in a two match series. Our guide to the ICC World Test Championship has the full picture.
Pakistan’s Squad: New Faces, Old Doubts
Pakistan lost 3 to 0 in England this summer. Since then, they have reshuffled the Test squad. Babar Azam leads the side.
The PCB first named 14 players on October 24. Three batters earned maiden call ups. They are Sameer Minhas, Mohammad Taha and Mohammad Suleman.
On November 7, the squad grew to 16. Fast bowlers Ali Shabbir and Saqib Khan got their first call ups. So did batter Muhammad Tayyab Arif. Allrounder Aamer Jamal returned. Ali Usman and Abdullah Fazal were released. The board gave no reason.
Shabbir is 19. Khan is 31. Tayyab Arif is 20. He scored 727 runs in the recent domestic tournament. Sameer Minhas made 405 runs in his first first class season.
Pakistan squad: Babar Azam (c), Aamer Jamal, Ali Shabbir, Arafat Minhas, Azan Awais, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Ghazi Ghori (wk), Mohammad Suleman, Mohammad Taha, Muhammad Tayyab Arif, Razaullah, Saad Baig (wk), Salman Ali Agha, Sameer Minhas, Saqib Khan, Saud Shakeel.
Our guide to the current Pakistan cricket team captaincy covers the leadership picture.
Sri Lanka’s Squad
Kusal Mendis captains Sri Lanka. Dinesh Chandimal, Dhananjaya de Silva and Kamindu Mendis bring batting experience. Lahiru Udara replaces the injured Pathum Nissanka.
Prabath Jayasuriya leads the spin attack. Dilshan Madushanka, Asitha Fernando, Milan Rathnayaka, Lahiru Kumara and Eshan Malinga give pace options. Sri Lanka also played a three day match in Islamabad before the Test.
Sri Lanka squad: Kusal Mendis (c, wk), Anjala Bandara (wk), Dinesh Chandimal, Dhananjaya de Silva, Sonal Dinusha, Asitha Fernando, Prabath Jayasuriya, Lahiru Kumara, Dilshan Madushanka, Eshan Malinga, Kamindu Mendis, Keshara Nuwantha, Milan Rathnayaka, Pasindu Sooriyabandara, Lahiru Udara (wk).
Pitch Report
A green pitch is expected. Rawalpindi usually helps fast bowlers. Mohammad Abbas said the match wicket had not been assessed yet. He added that conditions change from match to match.
The last Test here was in October 2025. Seamers should enjoy the first session. Batters may find life easier once the surface settles. Both captains may fancy bowling first on green grass.
Weather Report
Day one shows a 10 percent chance of rain. The high is about 26 degrees Celsius. The low is around 16 degrees.
Days two and three look mostly dry. Highs sit near 25 degrees. Day four is the worry. Thursday shows a 70 percent chance of rain. The high drops to about 20 degrees. Lost time could shape the result. Day five looks better at 15 percent.
Key Players to Watch
Babar Azam (Pakistan)
Babar captains the side. In his recent Test run, he has 568 runs in eight matches. His average is 40.57. Pakistan need a big innings from him. A fast start would calm a young batting group.
Mohammad Abbas (Pakistan)
Abbas is the senior seamer. He has never taken a five wicket haul in Pakistan. He wants one in this series. A green pitch gives him the perfect chance.
Prabath Jayasuriya (Sri Lanka)
Jayasuriya has 37 wickets in his last nine Tests. His economy is about 3.16. Sri Lanka lean on him whenever the pitch dries out. He needs early help from his pace group.
Kamindu Mendis (Sri Lanka)
Kamindu hit 131 in the ODI tri-series final in Lahore. He is an allrounder in the Test squad. He can bat long and bowl useful overs. Pakistan’s new bowlers will test him early.
Win Prediction
Pakistan have home conditions and a pace friendly pitch. Sri Lanka have more Test experience in their batting. A green pitch could shrink that gap. Pakistan start as slight favourites at home.
Rain on day four adds a draw to the mix.
Pakistan win: 45 percent
Sri Lanka win: 30 percent
Draw: 25 percent
Conclusion
Pakistan are ninth and last in the WTC table. They have a rebuilt squad and a green pitch. Sri Lanka have experience and a spin threat in Jayasuriya. The Pakistan vs Sri Lanka 1st Test could turn on the first session. It could also turn on the rain on day four. Rawalpindi on November 9 sets the tone for the whole series.
