Sri Lanka win toss, bat against Pakistan in first Test

By Muhammad JuniadPublished On 05 Jan 2023

• Pakistan will field against Sri Lanka in first Test of two-match series.
• All-rounder Salman Ali Agha makes his Test debut.
• Yasir Shah and Mohammad Nawaz return.

GALLE: Sri Lanka decided to bat first after winning the toss in the opening game of the two-match Test series against Pakistan played at the Galle International Stadium on Saturday.

All-rounder Salman Ali Agha is making his Test debut for Pakistan. Ahead of the toss, Agha has presented the debut cap by batting coach Mohammad Yousuf.

Yasir Shah and Mohammad Nawaz have also made their return to the playing XI.

The Test series is being played under the ICC World Test Championship Cycle of 2021 – 2023.

Playing XI:

Pakistan: Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan (vc, wk), Abdullah Shafique, Azhar Ali, Hasan Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Nawaz, Naseem Shah, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Afridi and Yasir Shah

Sri Lanka: Dimuth Karunartne (c) Oshanda Fernando, Angelo Mathews, Kusal Mendis, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dinesh Chandimal, Niroshan Dickwella (wk), Ramesh Mendis, Maheesh Theekshana, Kasun Rajitha, Prabath Jayasuriya