Sri Lanka win toss, elect to field in Rawalpindi Test

Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to field first against Pakistan in the first Test of the two-Test series in Rawalpindi on Monday.

Speaking at the toss, Sri Lankan captain Kusal Mendis said the team had included four fast bowlers in the playing XI.

Pakistan captain Babar Azam said his side would look to play to its strengths during the opening session.

He added that the team also had several experienced players in its lineup.

Pakistan have handed Test caps to four players for the opening match against Sri Lanka. They include Tayyab Arif, Mohammad Taha, Arafat Minhas and Saqib Khan.

Babar Azam, Azaan Awais, Saud Shakeel, Salman Ali Agha, Mohammad Abbas, Razaullah and Ghazi Ghori are also part of the Pakistan squad.

The Pakistan team will aim to clinch the two-match ICC World Test Championship series after the hosts won the three-match T20I series 2-1 and triumphed in the ODI tri-nation series as well. 

Sri Lanka will also be looking to conclude their all-format tour, which began on 9 October, with a series win.

They began the red-ball leg of the tour well by winning the three-day practice match against PCB Patron’s XI by 142 runs.