Pakistan vs Sri Lanka Test Series: Babar Azam’s New-Look Team Ready to Fight in Rawalpindi

Pakistan begin a new chapter in Test cricket on Monday, 9 November, when they take on Sri Lanka in the first Test at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. It is the start of a two-match home series — and the first Test Pakistan have played since a disastrous tour of England that ended in a 3-0 whitewash and a major shake-up of the team.

The side that walks out in Rawalpindi will look very different from the one that lost in England. Eight uncapped players are in the 16-man squad, the captain has promised to “fight with these young players”, and Pakistan sit bottom of the World Test Championship table with everything to prove.

Here is what to expect from the Pakistan vs Sri Lanka Test series, who the new faces are, and why this series matters so much.

A fresh start after the England disaster

Pakistan’s last Test series was one to forget. They were beaten 3-0 in England, and the tour fell apart so badly that seven players were sent home after the second Test.

The fallout was swift. Head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul were sacked in a September overhaul, and white-ball coach Mike Hesson was brought into the Test set-up. Of the seven players sent home from England, only Salman Ali Agha and Aamer Jamal have been recalled for this series. Five of the 11 players who played in the final Test at Edgbaston have also been dropped.

Some big names have missed out altogether. Senior wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan, former captain Shan Masood, and the spin duo of Sajid Khan and Noman Ali are all absent from the squad.

Captain Babar Azam, speaking at a press conference at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Sunday, made it clear that the rebuild was planned, not accidental.

“During the England series, we had planned to give new players a chance, so I am ready to fight with these young players,” Azam said.

The message is simple: Pakistan are starting again, and they are starting with youth.

Eight new faces in the squad

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) named a 14-member squad on 24 October, then added four more players on Saturday after a three-day warm-up match between the PCB Patron’s XI and Sri Lanka at the Islamabad Club. Pace bowling all-rounder Aamer Jamal returned, along with three uncapped players — batter Mohammad Tayyab Arif and fast bowlers Ali Shabbir and Saqib Khan. At the same time, the PCB released slow left-arm spinner Ali Usman and opening batter Abdullah Fazal, taking the squad to 16.

In total, eight uncapped players are in the squad. Here are the new names to watch:

Mohammad Tayyab Arif — the run machine

Tayyab Arif, 19, from Sialkot, has been one of the leading performers in domestic first-class cricket this season. The right-handed batter has scored 727 runs in seven matches at an average of 66.09, including three centuries in his maiden season. If he plays in Rawalpindi, he will be one of the youngest batters to debut for Pakistan in recent years.

Ali Shabbir — the teenage fast bowler

Ali Shabbir, also 19, has taken 22 wickets in eight first-class matches. He claimed three wickets in the practice game against Sri Lanka, and bowling coach Shaun Tait was reportedly impressed by the young fast bowler’s pace and rhythm.

Saqib Khan — the wicket-taker

Saqib Khan was among the standout performers in Karachi Blues’ Quaid-i-Azam Trophy 2025-26 title-winning campaign. He finished with 47 wickets in nine matches at an average of 20.60, including best figures of seven for 34.

The other debutants

Batters Mohammad Taha, Saad Baig and Sameer Minhas, along with pace bowler Razaullah’s fellow newcomers Mohammad Suleman and all-rounder Arafat Minhas, complete the group of eight uncapped players. Razaullah himself is not new — he made an impressive Test debut against England in Birmingham earlier this year, taking four wickets before smashing a rapid 81 that included nine sixes.

The additions underline the team management’s emphasis on rewarding domestic performances and giving emerging players a chance at the highest level.

Aamer Jamal returns

Aamer Jamal, 30, is the most experienced of the returning players. He has played nine Tests, three one-day internationals and six T20 internationals for Pakistan, and he was among the players sent home during the England tour.

He has earned his recall with strong domestic performances. He was named player of the final in the President’s Trophy Grade-I after taking seven wickets for 32 runs and scoring 55 to help Markhor IT Solutions win the title. He also made an impact in the opening round of the Quaid-i-Azam Trophy Gold, taking three wickets and scoring 74 and 23 while captaining Lahore Whites.

Babar Azam’s own battle

Babar Azam has his own fight on his hands. The Pakistan captain has gone 40 Test innings without a century — his last Test hundred came against New Zealand in Karachi in December 2022.

Babar, who was reappointed captain in July, said he has been working on his game in domestic cricket.

“I have played a few domestic matches and think that the more I play I will improve, so I am confident,” he said.

A big score in Rawalpindi would do more than end a long wait. It would set the tone for a new team that is looking to its captain for leadership, and it would give Pakistan’s batting a foundation after a series in England in which the batting repeatedly collapsed.

Mohammad Abbas leads the attack

While the batting is full of new faces, the bowling attack will be led by a familiar one. Experienced fast bowler Mohammad Abbas, 36, will lead the pace attack as Pakistan look to make a strong start to their home Test season.

Abbas has claimed 131 wickets in 33 Tests at an average of 22.67. He is keen to register a maiden five-wicket haul on home soil, a milestone that has so far eluded him despite success overseas — including career-best figures of six for 54 and a match haul of 10 for 95 against Australia in the United Arab Emirates in 2018, and five for 57 at Lord’s earlier this year.

“I thank Allah that I am in form and will try to continue it. I owe a big performance — a five-wicket haul — in Pakistan, so I will try to get my name on the board here as well,” he said.

Abbas credited his consistency to regular participation in domestic red-ball cricket and English county cricket, saying he managed around 20 to 25 days of competitive cricket almost every year. He also welcomed the inclusion of young players, describing it as a big opportunity for them to show their skills and secure their place for the future.

“This team has quite a few youngsters. The cricket board and management have decided that youngsters should be given a chance. It is a big opportunity for them to show their skills and secure their place for the future. This is a good sign,” he said.

He singled out Razaullah as a promising prospect, praising his willingness to learn and improve. But he also cautioned against taking Sri Lanka lightly, stressing the importance of assessing conditions and performing consistently.

Sri Lanka’s own rebuild

Sri Lanka are also going through a period of change. White-ball captain Kusal Mendis has taken over as Test captain from Dhananjaya de Silva, who was replaced last month.

“It’s exciting, and I am happy to lead the side,” Mendis said. “We have an experienced batting line-up, so we are ready for the challenge.”

Sri Lanka have named a 15-member squad featuring experienced players Dinesh Chandimal, Dhananjaya de Silva and Prabath Jayasuriya, while Pathum Nissanka is also in contention.

This is Sri Lanka’s first Test tour of Pakistan since 2019, when the islanders returned to the country for the longest format after a decade-long absence. The series trophy was unveiled at Rawal Lake in Islamabad on Sunday, with Babar Azam and Kusal Mendis posing together. The trophy features a golden cricket ball mounted on three elongated golden pillars.

Mendis hopes his batters will come good on what is expected to be a pace-friendly green wicket at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.

Head-to-head: Pakistan hold the edge

History favours Pakistan. The two sides have played 59 Tests against each other. Pakistan have won 23, lost 17, and 19 have ended in draws. Pakistan won the last home series between the sides 1-0 in 2019-20.

But past results will count for little on Monday. Both teams are rebuilding, both have new captains or new-look squads, and both are under pressure in the World Test Championship.

Why this series matters

Both matches are part of the ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 cycle. Pakistan currently sit bottom of the table in ninth place, while Sri Lanka are seventh. With only two wins in nine matches in this cycle — including the 3-0 loss in England and a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Bangladesh — Pakistan cannot afford another poor series at home.

For the young players, the series is a chance to claim a long-term place in the side. For Babar Azam, it is a chance to end his century drought and lead a rebuild. For Sri Lanka, it is a chance to win a Test series in Pakistan for the first time in years and to build around a new captain.

Pakistan vs Sri Lanka Test series schedule

• First Test: 9–13 November 2026, Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi
• Second Test: 17–21 November 2026, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore

Squads

Pakistan:

Babar Azam (captain), Aamer Jamal, Ali Shabbir, Arafat Minhas, Azan Awais, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Ghazi Ghori (wicketkeeper), Mohammad Suleman, Mohammad Taha, Mohammad Tayyab Arif, Razaullah, Saad Baig (wicketkeeper), Salman Ali Agha, Sameer Minhas, Saqib Khan, Saud Shakeel.

Sri Lanka:

Kusal Mendis (captain), Lahiru Udara, Pasindu Sooriyabandara, Dinesh Chandimal, Kamindu Mendis, Sonal Dinusha, Dhananjaya de Silva, Anjala Bandara, Keshara Nuwantha, Prabath Jayasuriya, Milan Rathnayaka, Lahiru Kumara, Asitha Fernando, Dilshan Madushanka, Eshan Malinga.

Frequently asked questions

When does the Pakistan vs Sri Lanka Test series start?

The first Test starts on Monday, 9 November 2026, at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. The second Test begins on 17 November at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.

How many new players are in Pakistan’s Test squad?

Eight uncapped players are in Pakistan’s 16-man squad, including batters Mohammad Tayyab Arif, Mohammad Taha, Saad Baig and Sameer Minhas, and fast bowlers Ali Shabbir and Saqib Khan.

Why has Pakistan picked so many young players?

Pakistan are rebuilding after a 3-0 whitewash in England. Seven players were sent home during that tour, the head coach and bowling coach were sacked, and the selectors have decided to reward domestic performances and build a team for the next World Test Championship cycle.

Where do Pakistan and Sri Lanka stand in the World Test Championship?

Pakistan are ninth and last in the ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 table, while Sri Lanka are seventh.

When did Sri Lanka last tour Pakistan for a Test series?

Sri Lanka’s last Test tour of Pakistan was in 2019. This is their first Test tour of the country since then.

Conclusion

The Pakistan vs Sri Lanka Test series is more than just two matches. It is the start of a rebuild for a Pakistan team that hit rock bottom in England, and a test of whether a group of young, unproven players can carry the side forward.

Babar Azam has promised to fight with his young players. Mohammad Abbas wants a five-wicket haul at home. And eight debutants are waiting for their chance. If the plan works, Rawalpindi could be the place where Pakistan’s next Test team is born. If it fails, the questions that followed the England tour will only grow louder.

The first ball is bowled on Monday morning. Pakistan’s new era starts then.

Sources

• Dawn: “Aamer, three uncapped players added to Pakistan Test squad” — https://www.dawn.com/news/2042954
• Geo News: “Babar Azam says new Pakistan Test squad ready to fight against Sri Lanka” — https://www.geo.tv/latest/690255-babar-azam-says-new-pakistan-test-squad-ready-to-fight-against-sri-lanka
• Associated Press (via La Nación): “Pakistan looks to youngsters to beat Sri Lanka in first test” — https://www.lanacion.com.ar/usa/pakistan-looks-to-youngsters-to-beat-sri-lanka-in-first-test-nid08112026/
• Geo Super: “Pakistan-Sri Lanka Test series trophy unveiled in Islamabad” — https://www.geosuper.tv/latest/61121-pakistan-sri-lanka-test-series-trophy-unveiled-in-islamabad

This article is for general information and education only. It is not legal or financial advice.