Pakistan Test Team Set for Major Overhaul Ahead of Sri Lanka Series
Head coach Mike Hesson is planning sweeping changes to Pakistan's Test setup, including a new opening pair and pace-friendly home pitches, as the side prepares to host Sri Lanka in November.
Pakistan's Test team is bracing for a significant shake-up as head coach Mike Hesson moves to revamp the side following a difficult year in the longest format. Pakistan is scheduled to host Sri Lanka for a two-match Test series, with the opening match set to begin in Rawalpindi on November 9 and the second in Lahore on November 17.
The series will be Pakistan's first home Test assignment of the year, even though the team has already featured in seven matches across three overseas series. Those outings produced poor returns, with Pakistan losing six of the seven games, including a 2-0 whitewash at the hands of Bangladesh and a 3-0 defeat to England. The side's only victory came in a series against the West Indies that ended level at 1-1.
In response, the team management has decided to rethink its approach to home conditions. Reports indicate that Hesson has asked ground staff to prepare pace-friendly surfaces for both matches against Sri Lanka, with the aim of helping Pakistan adjust better to lively pitches, particularly on future overseas tours. Ground staff are said to be working on tracks that offer more assistance to fast bowlers.
The playing XI is also expected to look considerably different. Five players who appeared in the final Test against England — Saim Ayub, Abdullah Shafique, Shan Masood, Mohammad Imran and Mohammad Ali — are reportedly no longer in the team's plans. Although Masood scored 95 runs in the first innings of the Birmingham Test, Hesson is understood to favour giving a younger batter an opportunity in place of the 37-year-old.
Pakistan is also expected to field a new opening combination, with Azan Awais and Abdullah Fazal emerging as the leading contenders. Meanwhile, fast bowlers Mohammad Abbas and Razaullah, both currently with the PCB Patron's XI, are likely to join the national squad after the three-day match against Sri Lanka and are considered strong candidates for selection.
In a further development, Hesson has advised Babar Azam to take part in domestic four-day cricket to rediscover his batting form. The former Pakistan captain is now featuring in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy on the coach's recommendation, as the side looks to rebuild ahead of the home series.
