GALLE: Pakistan’s cricket team is hoping to break their year-long winless streak as they face Sri Lanka in the upcoming Test match starting on the same date and ground where their last victory took place. Captain Babar Azam expressed excitement about returning to red-ball format and stated that the team is prepared and ready for the challenge.
Despite Azam being ranked in the top three in all three cricket formats globally, Pakistan’s recent form has been disappointing, with no victories in their last six Test matches. The Galle fixture against Sri Lanka last year remains their only Test win since the beginning of 2022.
Azam emphasized the importance of consistency across all formats and acknowledged the positive aspect of having 13 players who were part of the Galle Test a year ago. The two-match series against Sri Lanka also marks Pakistan’s participation in the ICC World Test Championship 2023-25. Azam expressed his delight at having Shaheen Shah Afridi back in the side, who is just one wicket away from completing a century of Test wickets. Afridi has been eager to reach this milestone for a year, having been injured at the same Galle ground.
Sri Lanka Aim to Win Home Matches Against Pakistan
Pakistan will utilize the expertise of newly appointed team director Mickey Arthur, a former Sri Lanka coach, to gain insights about the opposition. Azam highlighted Sri Lanka’s strength in spin bowling and mentioned that they have received valuable feedback about the Sri Lanka side from their former coach.
Sri Lanka captain Dimuth Karunaratne expressed his main aim of winning all home matches in the ICC World Test Championship and a few away matches to enhance their chances of qualifying for the finals. Karunaratne acknowledged that his team learned from their mistakes and is well prepared for the first Test. Sri Lanka will field a similar side to the one that triumphed over Ireland in a two-match series in April, with Kasun Rajitha replacing Asitha Fernando as the only change.
Karunaratne highlighted the importance of negotiating Shaheen’s overs, particularly when the ball gets older and can reverse swing. He acknowledged Pakistan’s strong all-round capabilities and expressed the team’s confidence, stating their focus on winning every session and dominating the match.
