GALLE: The opening Test match between Sri Lanka and Pakistan in Galle was interrupted by rain shortly after Sri Lanka elected to bat first and reached 18-1. The rain forced players off the field, halting the game temporarily.
Pakistan’s fast bowler, Shaheen Shah Afridi, made an early breakthrough to claim his 100th wicket in Test cricket. Afridi dismissed Sri Lankan batsman Nishan Madushka for four runs, caught behind by the wicketkeeper. The milestone wicket marked a significant achievement for Afridi, who is playing his 26th Test match. Notably, he has returned to the team exactly a year after suffering a knee injury at the same venue.
The two-match series between Sri Lanka and Pakistan also signifies the commencement of their participation in the ICC World Test Championship for the 2023-2025 cycle.
The teams’ lineups for the match are as follows:
Sri Lanka Squad
Dimuth Karunaratne (capt), Nishan Madushka, Kusal Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dinesh Chandimal, Sadeera Samarawickrama (wk), Ramesh Mendis, Prabath Jayasuriya, Vishwa Fernando, Kasun Rajitha
Pakistan Squad
Abdullah Shafique, Imam-ul-Haq, Shan Masood, Babar Azam (capt), Sarfaraz Ahmed (wk), Saud Shakeel, Agha Salman, Noman Ali, Naseem Shah, Abrar Ahmed, Shaheen Shah Afridi
The rain delay has interrupted the match, frustrating players and fans alike. Both teams will be eager to resume play and make the most of the opportunity to compete in the World Test Championship.
As the weather permits, the action is expected to resume, and cricket enthusiasts will be anticipating an engaging contest between Sri Lanka and Pakistan in Galle.
