Speaking to the Pakistan Cricket Board, Awais highlighted the importance of the ongoing warm-up match between the PCB Patrons XI and Sri Lanka. He noted that the challenging conditions in the practice game provided him with essential experience in handling the new ball.

The batter stated that he has been diligently working on his shot selection and remains focused on achieving his personal targets for the upcoming series. He expressed his enthusiasm for the opportunity to represent his country in front of a home crowd for the first time.

Meanwhile, preparations for the Test series are intensifying as members of the Pakistan squad have begun reporting to a team hotel in Islamabad. Players including Arafat Minhas, Saud Shakeel, Salman Ali Agha, Mohammad Abbas, and Razaullah have already checked in.

The remaining members of the squad, including Babar Azam and Ghazi Ghori, are expected to join the camp on Friday. The team is scheduled to commence their formal training sessions at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium starting on November 7.

The upcoming Test series against Sri Lanka serves as a crucial assignment for Pakistan as they look to build on their recent international performances. The national selectors have also considered including Mohammad Salman and Ali Shabbir to bolster the squad depth.

The series against Sri Lanka will be a key test for the home side, particularly for younger players looking to cement their places in the Test XI. The team management is focused on ensuring the players are well-prepared for the specific challenges posed by the visiting side.

The visitors reached 121-6 in their second innings when stumps were called. Milan Ratnayake anchored the innings and remained unbeaten on 27, with Kesara Nuwantha yet to get off the mark at the other end.

The PCB Patron's XI bowling attack fought back during the final session, with Shoaib Akhtar Jr. leading the effort by claiming three wickets. Ubaid Shah and Saqib Khan also contributed by taking one wicket each to keep the hosts in the contest.

Earlier in the day, the PCB Patron's XI resumed their first innings from an overnight score of 43-2. The side eventually declared at 151-8, falling 72 runs short of Sri Lanka's first-innings total of 223-7.

Azan Awais provided the backbone for the home side's first innings, top-scoring with 50 runs. Further resistance came from Tayyab Arif, who contributed 30, and Muhammad Taha, who added 29 to the total before the declaration.

This practice match serves as a vital preparation period for the touring Sri Lankan squad as they acclimatize to local conditions. The fixture provides the PCB Patron's XI players an opportunity to test themselves against international opposition.

The match concludes on Friday, with Sri Lanka looking to set a challenging target for the hosts before declaring their second innings to allow for a final day of bowling practice.

Brief scores: Sri Lanka 223-7 (dec) and 121-6 (Ratnayake 27*; Shoaib Jr. 3-x) lead PCB Patron's XI 151-8 (dec) (Awais 50, Arif 30) by 193 runs.