Sri Lanka host Pakistan in two-match Test series - watch live in India

The Sri Lanka national cricket team will lock horns with Pakistan in a two-match Test series starting on Sunday, July 16.

Both sides will kickstart their ICC World Test Championship 2023-25 cycle with the upcoming two Test matches.

The first Test of the Pakistan tour of Sri Lanka 2023 will be played at Galle International Stadium from July 16-20, while the second and final Test will be hosted at Sinhalese Sports Club from July 24-28 in Colombo.

Hosts Sri Lanka have announced a 16-member squad for the Test series and will be led by veteran batter Dimuth Karunaratne.

Young right-handed batter Pathum Nissanka has been recalled to the Sri Lanka Test squad, while fast bowler Kasun Rajitha has also been selected for the upcoming series.

Dilshan Madushanka, Praveen Jayawickrama and uncapped Lakshitha Manasinghe are some of the youngsters that have been added to the Test squad.

Meanwhile, Lasith Embuldeniya, Asitha Fernando, Dushan Hemantha and Milan Priyanath Rathnayake have been dropped from the squad.

On the other hand, Babar Azam will lead the Pakistan national cricket team against Sri Lanka.

The visitors have received a massive boost with the return of star pacer Shaheen Afridi. The 23-year-old suffered a knee injury in a Test versus Sri Lanka in July 2022.

All-rounder Aamer Jamal and batter Mohammad Huraira are two uncapped players that have been included in the 16-man Pakistan Test squad.

Sri Lanka vs Pakistan Test head-to-head

Pakistan have a slight edge over Sri Lanka in their head-to-head record in Test cricket, winning 21 of the 57 matches. Sri Lanka have registered 17 victories while 19 matches ended in draws.

Furthermore, Pakistan have registered eight wins and suffered nine defeats in Tests on Sri Lankan soil.

In 2022, Sri Lanka hosted Pakistan in a similar two-match Test series. The series ended in a 1-1 draw.

Where to watch Sri Lanka vs Pakistan Tests 2023 live in India?

The Sri Lanka vs Pakistan Tests 2023 will be telecast live on Sony Sports Ten 2 and Sony Sports Ten 2 HD TV channels in India.

Live streaming of the Sri Lanka vs Pakistan Tests 2023 will be available on SonyLIV app and website. The Pakistan tour of Sri Lanka 2023 will also be live streamed on FanCode app and website.

Sri Lanka vs Pakistan Tests 2023 schedule and live match start times

All times in India Standard Time (IST)

Sri Lanka vs Pakistan Tests 2023 squads

Sri Lanka Test squad: Dimuth Karunaratne (captain), Nishan Madushka (wicket-keeper), Kusal Mendis (wicket-keeper), Angelo Matthews, Dinesh Chandimal (wicket-keeper), Dhananjaya de Silva, Pathum Nissanka, Sadeera Samarawickrama (wicket-keeper), Kamindu Mendis, Ramesh Mendis, Prabath Jayasuriya, Praveen Jayawickrama, Kasun Rajitha, Dilshan Madushanka, Vishwa Fernando, Lakshitha Manasinghe

Pakistan Test squad: Babar Azam (captain), Mohammad Rizwan (vice-captain/wicket-keeper), Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Hasan Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Huraira, Mohammad Nawaz, Naseem Shah, Noman Ali, Salman Ali Agha, Sarfaraz Ahmed (wicket-keeper), Saud Shakeel, Shaheen Afridi, Shan Masood

Photo credit: Alamy