All set for an enthralling duel on the cricket field, as Sri Lanka and Pakistan are poised for the 2nd Test match at the beautiful Sinhalese Sports Club, Colombo on July 24. This two-match Test series carries immense weight as it marks the beginning of the 2023-25 World Test Championship campaign. Both teams are eagerly waiting to commence the new cycle on a victorious note and amass crucial points. Now, let’s delve into their recent form, key players, and make some educated predictions for the upcoming clash.
In the recent past, Sri Lanka demonstrated a stellar performance, pulling off a resounding 2-0 victory against Ireland in their last Test series. Unfortunately, this didn’t contribute to their tally in the World Test Championship. Furthermore, they lost the opportunity to advance to the WTC Final after a 2-0 setback against New Zealand. Meanwhile, Pakistan ended both of their Tests against New Zealand in draws in their previous series, leaving their WTC ranking unaffected.
When it comes to the historic face-off between these two teams, out of 57 Test clashes, Pakistan marginally holds the advantage with 21 victories, while Sri Lanka trails with 17. The rest of the 19 encounters concluded with a stalemate. If we examine the last 10 confrontations, the record seems evenly balanced, with Sri Lanka registering five wins, Pakistan with four, and one match ending in a draw.
With Dimuth Karunaratne at the helm, the Sri Lankan team features star players like Kusal Mendis, Dinesh Chandimal, and Angelo Mathews. The squad is further strengthened with the inclusion of young guns Dilshan Madushanka and Lakshitha Manasinghe, who are expected to add extra firepower to the pace attack. For Pakistan, the squad is led by Babar Azam, featuring seasoned cricketers like Abdullah Shafique, Imam-ul-Haq, and Shan Masood. The return of Shaheen Afridi is a much-needed boost to their bowling prowess.
Probable 11
Sri Lanka: Dimuth Karunaratne (c), Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Dinesh Chandimal, Angelo Mathews, Dhananjaya de Silva, Sadeera Samarawickrama (wk), Kasun Rajitha, Dilshan Madushanka, Prabath Jayasuriya, Lakshitha Manasinghe
Pakistan: Abdullah Shafique, Imam-ul Haq, Babar Azam (c), Shan Masood, Saud Shakeel, Agha Salman, Mohammed Rizwan (wk), Mohammed Nawaz, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Afridi, Abrar Ahmad
Match Prediction
With Sri Lanka boasting experienced players and riding the wave of recent triumphs in the Asian Championship and World Cup Qualifier, they are set to pose a stern challenge for Pakistan. Nevertheless, Pakistan’s formidable batting lineup, spearheaded by Babar Azam, has the potential to upset the hosts. A nail-biting contest seems to be on the cards.
As we approach the conclusion, this upcoming Test series between Sri Lanka and Pakistan promises to be an exciting cricket extravaganza for fans worldwide. Both teams are aiming to set the tone for the new World Test Championship cycle with a victory. A fierce battle between bat and ball is eagerly anticipated, with the captivating cricketing saga unfolding in Galle set to create a lasting memory for spectators around the globe.
