The PCB Patrons XI will take on the Sri Lanka Test squad in a three-day practice match starting on Wednesday at the Islamabad Club Ground as the touring side steps up preparations for the upcoming two-match Test series.
Both squads completed their final training sessions at the Islamabad Club on Tuesday ahead of the opening day of the warm-up fixture, which serves as a crucial tune-up for red-ball action.
Patrons XI head coach Ijaz Ahmed Junior said the practice match would provide a valuable opportunity for players selected for the Test series to prepare under competitive match conditions. He noted that all players in the Patrons XI squad had been active in domestic cricket and expressed confidence in a strong contest.
Patrons XI captain Saad Baig emphasized that adapting to the demands of the longer format would be a primary challenge for the players. Baig recently played a key role in Pakistan’s ODI tri-series triumph in Lahore on October 31, where he hit a 75-ball 74.
Baig added that he felt honoured to be entrusted with the leadership role and was eager to guide his side through the demanding three-day fixture against international opposition.
Seven members of Pakistan's Test team are included in the 13-member Patrons XI squad, offering them vital playing time before the main series commences.
The Pakistan Cricket Board announced that two additional fast bowlers from the Patrons XI squad will be added to the national Test squad after the conclusion of the practice match on November 6.
The warm-up encounter is scheduled to run for three days at the Islamabad Club Ground, providing a bridge between domestic performances and the upcoming international fixtures.
Following the practice match, there will be a two-day gap before Pakistan and Sri Lanka meet in the first Test at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium from November 9 to 13.
The second and final Test of the series will be hosted at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore from November 17 to 21, concluding the red-ball assignment.
The upcoming series forms part of the ongoing ICC World Test Championship 2025-2027 cycle. Sri Lanka currently occupy seventh position in the standings after playing six Tests, having secured one victory and suffered two defeats.
Pakistan are positioned at the bottom of the World Test Championship table, having recorded two wins and seven defeats from their nine matches in the current cycle so far.
The Patrons XI squad features Saad Baig as captain alongside Abdullah Fazal, Ali Shabbir, Ali Usman, Azan Awais, Mohammad Salman, Mohammad Suleman, Mohammad Tayyab Arif, Mohammad Taha, Saqib Khan, Sameer Minhas, Shoaib Akhtar Junior, and Ubaid Shah.
The touring Sri Lanka Test squad is led by Kusal Mendis and includes Anjala Bandara, Dinesh Chandimal, Dhananjaya De Silva, Sonal Dinusha, Asitha Fernando, Prabath Jayasuriya, Lahiru Kumara, Dilshan Madushanka, Eshan Malinga, Kamindu Mendis, Pathum Nissanka, Keshara Nuwantha, Milan Rathnayaka, and Pasindu Sooriyabandara.
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