Babar Azam Eyes Fresh Start As New-Look Pakistan Face Sri Lanka

Pakistan captain Babar Azam hopes an overhauled side can make a fresh start when they take on Sri Lanka in the first Test beginning in Rawalpindi on Monday, following their disastrous tour of England. The two-match series will be Pakistan's first assignment since a 3-0 whitewash in England, where seven players were sent home after the second Test. Head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul were also removed as part of a restructuring in September, with white-ball coach Mike Hesson joining the Test set-up. Of the seven players who were sent home during the England tour, only Salman Ali Agha and Aamer Jamal have returned to the squad. Five members of the XI that played the final Test at Edgbaston have also been left out.

Senior wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan, former captain Shan Masood, and spin duo Sajid Khan and Noman Ali are among the notable omissions.

Batters Mohammad Taha, Saad Baig, Tayyab Arif and Sameer Minhas, along with pacers Saqib Khan and Ali Shabbir, have all earned maiden Test call-ups.

"During the England series, we had planned to give new players an opportunity, so I am ready to fight with these young players," Azam said on Sunday.

The Pakistan skipper will also be hoping to rediscover his best form with the bat. He is currently enduring a run of 40 Test innings without a century, with his last Test hundred coming against New Zealand in Karachi in December 2022.

"I have played a few domestic matches and think that the more I play, the better I will become. So I am confident," said Azam, who was reappointed captain in July.

The series forms part of the World Test Championship cycle, with Pakistan currently placed ninth and Sri Lanka seventh in the standings.

The second Test is scheduled to begin in Lahore on November 17.

Sri Lanka are also entering a new era in Test cricket, with white-ball captain Kusal Mendis having replaced Dhananjaya de Silva as skipper last month.

"It's exciting and I am happy to lead the side," Mendis said.

"We have an experienced batting line-up, so we are ready for the challenge."

Squads

Pakistan: Babar Azam (captain), Aamer Jamal, Ali Shabbir, Arafat Minhas, Azan Awais, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Abbas, Ghazi Ghori, Mohammad Suleman, Mohammad Taha, Tayyab Arif, Razaullah, Saad Baig, Salman Ali Agha, Sameer Minhas, Saqib Khan.

Sri Lanka: Kusal Mendis (captain), Lahiru Udara, Pasindu Sooriyabandara, Dinesh Chandimal, Kamindu Mendis, Sonal Dinusha, Dhananjaya de Silva, Anjala Bandara, Keshara Nuwantha, Prabath Jayasuriya, Milan Rathnayaka, Lahiru Kumara, Asitha Fernando, Dilshan Madushanka, Eshan Malinga.

Match Officials:

Umpires: Adrian Holdstock (South Africa), Rodney Tucker (Australia)
TV Umpire: Allahuddien Palekar (South Africa)
Match Referee: Dean Cosker (England)

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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