Pakistan ready for fresh challenge as Sri Lanka Tests begin

Pakistan and Sri Lanka will begin their two-match Test series in Rawalpindi on Monday, with the hosts expected to introduce three or more new faces in their playing XI as they look to build a fresh combination.

Samir Minhas, Tayyab Arif, Mohammad Taha and Saqib Khan are among the players in contention for their Test debuts, with Pakistan expected to make changes to their line-up.

The trophy for the two-match series was unveiled in Islamabad, where both captains also posed for photographs with it at Rawal Lake.

Ahead of the opening Test, Pakistan captain Babar Azam expressed confidence in his side, promising an improved and different team for the Rawalpindi encounter.

Babar said no player or team was perfect and that learning was a continuous process.

He stressed the importance of recognising mistakes, learning from them and moving forward.

The skipper also said he believed continued exposure to international cricket would help him improve as a player, adding that he remained determined to lead Pakistan to victory in the series.