ISLAMABAD: Sri Lanka cricket team arrived in Islamabad on Monday for a two match test series
scheduled for 11th – 23rd December.
- The Test matches schedule is as follows:
- First test will be played between two sides at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium from December 11-15
- Second test will be played from Dec 19-23 at National Cricket Stadium, Karachi.
Sri Lanka’s squad led by Dimuth Karunaratne is missing pacer Suranga Lakmal who had to drop out owing to dengue fever as per an official announcement by Sri Lankan Cricket Board. Asitha Fernando will replace him in second match.
Host team will be led Azhar Ali and includes a surprise addition of left-handed batsman Fawad Alam.Relying on favorable conditions and home crowd, green shirts is looking to alleviate the pressure of recent defeats in Australia.
Earlier, Pakistan’s chief selector Misbah-ul-Haq defended the decision to include Fawad Alam terming him a ‘strong player for number 6’. He also expressed support for beleaguered captain Azhar Ali and rebuffed any rumors of change in captaincy.
Squads:
Sri Lanka: Dimuth Karunaratne (captain), Oshada Fernando, Kusal Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal, Kusal Perera, Lahiru Thirimanne, Dhananjaya de Silva, Niroshan Dickwella, Dilruwan Perera, Lasith Embuldeniya, Lahiru Kumara, Vishwa Fernando, Kasun Rajitha, and Lakshan Sandakan. Substitute player: Asitha Fernando.
Pakistan: Azhar Ali (captain), Fawad Alam, Mohammad Rizwan (wicket keeper), Babar Azam, Abid Ali, Asad Shafiq, Haris Sohail, Imam-ul-Haq, Imran Khan, Kashif Bhatti, Mohammad Abbas, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shan Masood, Yasir Shah, and Usman Shinwari.
