Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced on Tuesday that the Pakistan national cricket team will travel to Sri Lanka for a two-match Test series, set to kick off on July 16.
The first Test will take place at the Galle International Cricket Stadium, starting on July 16, while the second Test will be held at the Singhalese Sports Club in Colombo from July 24 to 28.
Babar Azam's team will arrive in Sri Lanka on July 9 and participate in a two-day warm-up match on July 11. The venue for the warm-up fixture is yet to be confirmed, according to the PCB release.
In their previous tour of Sri Lanka in 2022, Pakistan showcased a thrilling display by successfully chasing down a target of 342 runs in the first Test at the Galle International Cricket Stadium. The victory marked the highest successful run chase at the ground, resulting in a four-wicket win for Pakistan. However, Sri Lanka bounced back in the second Test, winning by a massive margin of 246 runs, leading to a 1-1 series draw.
The upcoming Test series will see Pakistan return to the Singhalese Sports Club in Colombo for the first time since 2014. Pakistan has played six Test matches at this venue, securing one victory, suffering one defeat, and encountering four draws.
The Test series against Sri Lanka will mark Pakistan's first assignment in the ICC World Test Championship cycle for 2023-2025. The team will be aiming to kickstart their campaign on a positive note and accumulate valuable points in the championship standings.