SL vs PAK 1st Test Match Preview and Fantasy Prediction
Pakistan tour of Sri Lanka
SL vs PAK, 1st Test
Preview
The first Test match between Sri Lanka and Pakistan will begin on Saturday (July 16 to 20). The protests of thousands of Sri Lankans as their President departed the nation have tarnished the setting for the Test series. The SL Board President's XI and Pakistan's warm-up game went without a hitch. There is yet no official information on the cancellation of the Test match. The hosts are in good form after drawing the two-match Test series with Australia 1-1.
The Dimuth Karunaratne led side is unquestionably high on confidence after defeating strong Australia in the second Test by an innings. Prabhat Jayasuria and Dinesh Chandimal were the chief architects of that historic win.While, Prabhat Jayasuriya picked up 12 wickets in his debut game, Dinesh Chandimal amassed a magnificent double century. With big players like Chandimal, Karunaratne, and Angelo Matthews coming up, the batting has looked strong.
Due to a positive COVID-19 test, Matthews was unable to participate in the second Test match against Australia. For the opening Test match with Pakistan, he is expected to return.
On the other hand, the Babar Azam-led team has also done well in the World Test Championship cycle 2021-23. They now sit in fourth position in the points table, but a victory vs Sri Lanka would move them higher. The guests have seemed reliable with both bat and ball. Babar Azam, Imam ul Haq, and Shaheen Shah Afridi have been the proficient performers for the men in green. In the current WTC cycle, the trio has played a key role in Pakistan winning the vast majority of games.
Match Details
Match: SL vs PAK, 1st Test, Pakistan tour of Sri Lanka, 2022
Date: Saturday, July 16, 2022 - Wednesday, July 20, 2022
Time: 10:00 AM
Venue: Galle International Stadium, Galle
Pitch Report
The Test matches between Sri Lanka and Australia provided proof that the Galle surface is a little challenging for batting. On this field, the average first innings total is 274.
SL vs PAK Squads
SL: Dimuth Karunaratne (c), Niroshan Dickwella (wk), Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal, Kamindu Mendis, Ramesh Mendis, Maheesh Theekshana, Prabath Jayasuriya, Kasun Rajitha, Oshada Fernando, Asitha Fernando, Vishwa Fernando, Jeffrey Vandersay, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dunith Wellalage, Dilshan Madushanka
PAK: Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Abdullah Shafique, Imam-ul-Haq, Azhar Ali, Fawad Alam, Nauman Ali, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, Yasir Shah, Naseem Shah, Mohammad Nawaz, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Shan Masood, Saud Shakeel, Agha Salman, Faheem Ashraf
SL vs PAK Probable Playing XIs
SL: Dimuth Karunaratne, Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Dinesh Chandimal, Angelo Matthews, Niroshan Dickwella, Prabath Jayasuriya, Ramesh Mendis, Kasun Rajitha, Mahessh Theekshana, Dhananjaya de Silva
PAK: Imam ul Haq, Abdullaha Shafique, Azhar Ali, Babar Azam, Fawad Alam, Mohammad Rizwan, Faheem Ashraf, Yasir Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Nauman Ali
Match Prediction
Both teams are highly competitive and we expect them to go hard at each other in the inaugural test. Pakistan will have an edge over the hosts, given they have a much stable team but as we have seen in recent weeks Sri Lanka cannot be written off in home conditions. We predict Sri Lanka to win this game and go 1-0 up in the series
Suggested Playing XI Real11 Fantasy Cricket
CRICKET NEWS
This game involves an element of financial risk and may be addictive. Please play responsibly at your own risk.
This game is applicable for people 18+ only.