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.

The matches are scheduled to take place in Rawalpindi and Lahore between November 9 and 21. Selectors have opted for a refreshed look following domestic performances, bringing in fresh talent to bolster the batting and bowling options available to the team management.

Left-handed batsman Mohammad Taha, Mohammad Suleman, and promising youngster Sameer Minhas have earned their maiden call-ups to the national Test setup. Their inclusion follows standout campaigns in the ongoing domestic first-class competitions across the country.

Mohammad Taha has emerged as the leading run-scorer in the President's Trophy Grade-I tournament. The 26-year-old has accumulated 730 runs across seven matches, featuring three centuries and a highest individual score of 225 runs.

Mohammad Suleman has also enjoyed a prolific run in the same competition, contributing 652 runs with three centuries to his name. Sameer Minhas earned his selection after scoring 405 runs in seven matches during his debut first-class season, following strong displays for the Pakistan Under-19 side.

Conversely, ten players who featured on the recent tour of England have been left out of the initial selection. The notable omissions include former captain Shan Masood, Mohammad Rizwan, Aamir Jamal, Imam-ul-Haq, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Ali, Muhammad Awais Zafar, Sajid Khan, Abdullah Shafique, and Ubaid Shah.

Despite missing out on the primary Test squad, fast bowler Ubaid Shah has been named in a 13-member PCB Patron's XI squad. This side is scheduled to play a three-day warm-up match against Sri Lanka from November 4 to 6 at the Islamabad Club.

Saad Baig will captain the Patron's XI team during the practice fixture. Selectors plan to evaluate the warm-up performances before adding two fast bowlers from the practice squad into the main Test group to finalize the pace attack.

Six members of the initial Test squad will also feature in the warm-up fixture against the tourists to gain valuable match practice. The dual squads provide a platform for fringe players and youngsters to stake a claim for regular positions in the red-ball side.

The complete 14-member Test squad features Babar Azam as captain, alongside Abdullah Fazal, Ali Usman, Arafat Minhas, Azan Awais, Mohammad Abbas, and wicketkeeper Mohammad Ghazi Ghori. They are joined by Mohammad Suleman, Mohammad Taha, Razaullah, and wicketkeeper Saad Baig.

Middle-order batter Salman Ali Agha returns to the Test setup, rounding out the squad alongside Sameer Minhas and Saud Shakeel. The selection blends experienced campaigners with domestic performers aiming to make an immediate impact at international level.

The Patron's XI squad comprises Saad Baig as captain and wicketkeeper, Abdullah Fazal, Ali Shabbir, Ali Usman, Azan Awais, Mohammad Salman, Mohammad Suleman, and Mohammad Tayyab Arif. Additional members include Mohammad Taha, Saqib Khan, Sameer Minhas, Shoaib Akhtar Junior, and Ubaid Shah.

The upcoming series forms a crucial part of the ICC World Test Championship cycle for Pakistan as they seek to improve their standings in the global table. Home conditions in Rawalpindi and Lahore are expected to play a decisive role in the outcome of the matches.

Sri Lanka's arrival for the bilateral assignment marks another important chapter in the ongoing Test calendar. Both teams will aim to secure vital championship points during the two encounters scheduled for November.

Domestic cricket structures continue to serve as the primary feeder system for the national side, evidenced by the heavy representation of leading run-scorers in this latest squad announcement. The selectors' emphasis on current domestic form highlights a shift toward rewarding consistent performers in first-class fixtures.

Selectors have demonstrated a willingness to overhaul the playing roster following challenging results on the international stage earlier in the season. The omission of ten players from the England tour underscores a rigorous review of team performance by the Pakistan Cricket Board.

Middle-order contributions will be heavily scrutinized as new faces like Mohammad Taha and Mohammad Suleman step into the international arena. Their domestic exploits have demonstrated the temperament required for longer formats of the game.

Sameer Minhas adds further youth to the batting lineup after progressing through the junior international ranks and making an immediate impression in senior domestic cricket. His development is viewed as a positive step for the talent pipeline.

The three-day warm-up match at the Islamabad Club will offer Sri Lanka an ideal opportunity to acclimatize to local conditions ahead of the first Test. It also provides the selection panel a chance to finalize their bowling combinations.

As preparations intensify in the coming weeks, the team management will look to foster strong cohesion within the revised squad. The combination of established leadership under Babar Azam and energetic newcomers aims to revitalise Pakistan's red-ball campaign.