India, Nov. 9 -- Pakistan are set to host Sri Lanka in the opening Test of their two-match series at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium from Monday, November 9, with both sides aiming to get their ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 campaign back on track. Babar Azam will lead the hosts in his first home Test series since returning to the captaincy, while Kusal Mendis will be in charge of the visitors. Pakistan have also strengthened their squad following the warm-up match in Islamabad, bringing in Aamer Jamal, Ali Shabbir, Muhammad Tayyab Arif and Saqib Khan. Among them, Shabbir, Arif and Saqib have received their maiden Test call-ups, while Abdullah Fazal and Ali Usman have been released.

Sri Lanka will bank on their experienced core, feat...