Pakistan tour to Sri Lanka 2022-[Preview]

Pakistan is scheduled to tour Sri Lanka in the month of July to play two-match Test matches, starting from 16^th July at Galle International Cricket Stadium.

The home side is currently playing two-match Test series against Australia. Dimuth Karunaratne will lead the side for the two-match Test series against Pakistan. The Islanders lost their opening game of the Test series against Australia.

On the other hand, Pakistan have announced their 17-member squad for the tour of Sri Lanka. Captain Babar Azam will be hoping that the side can adjust to the conditions and put on a decent show against Sri Lanka.

Uncapped batting duo of Saud Shakeel and Agha Salman have earned their maiden call-ups to the Pakistan’s Test squad for the tour of Sri Lanka. Nauman Ali, Faheem Ashraf and Mohammad Nawaz are three genuine all-rounders for the two-match Test series against Sri Lanka.

Shan Masood, Abdullah Shafique and Imam-Ul-Haq are three openers picked for the two-match Test series against Sri Lanka. Mohammad Rizwan and Sarfaraz Ahmed will be two wicket-keepers for the tour of Sri Lanka.

Since July 2021, Babar Azam has topped the batting charts for Pakistan in Test cricket. In seven Tests played, Babar has accumulated 682 runs at an average of 62.00 with one century and five half-centuries.

Besides Babar, opener Abdullah Shafique has enjoyed decent form for Pakistan. In five Tests played, Abdullah Shafique has accumulated 547 runs at an average of 68.37 with one century and four half-centuries.

In a three-match series played at home, Imam-Ul-Haq has accumulated 370 runs at an average of 74.00 with two centuries and one half-century.

Shaheen Afridi, Hasan Ali, Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf are four premier pacers for Pakistan for this two-match Test series. Yasir Shah and Nauman Ali are the two prominent spinners for the visitors for the Test series.

In the bowling department, the onus will be on the likes of Shaheen Shah Afridi, Hassan Ali and Naseem Shah to provide crucial breakthroughs.

Since July 2021, Left-arm quick, Shaheen Shah Afridi has topped the bowling charts for Pakistan in the five-day format. In 7 Test matches played, Shaheen Afridi has claimed 37 wickets at an average of 18.02 with two five-fors and one five-fors to his name.

Besides Shaheen Afridi, Hasan Ali has claimed 20 wickets in six matches at an average of 28.82 with one five-wicket haul to his name.

On the other hand, Sri Lanka will be looking to put on a decent show against Babar Azam-led Pakistan.  In the batting department, the onus will be on the likes of Dimuth Karunaratne, Dhananjaya de Silva and Pathum Nissanka to deliver the bulk of the runs.

Since July 2021, opener Dimuth Karunaratne has topped the batting charts for Sri Lanka in the Test format. In seven matches played, Karunaratne has accumulated 643 runs at an average of 49.46 with two centuries and three half-centuries to his name.

In the bowling department, the onus will be on the likes of Ramesh Mendis, Lasith Embuldeniya and Praveen Jayawickrama to deliver timely breakthroughs.

Since July 2021, Ramesh Mendis has topped the batting charts for Sri Lanka in the five-day format. In five-matches played, Mendis has claimed 23 wickets at an average of 25.60.

The two-match Test series will be played at Galle International Cricket Stadium. The series opener will be played from 16^th to 20^th July. The second and final game of the series will be played at 24^th to 28^th July.