GALLE: Pakistan all-format captain Babar Azam confirmed left-arm spinner, Nauman Ali, as the replacement of ace pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi, who was ruled out of the second Test against Sri Lanka due to a knee injury.

Babar, in a Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) released video statement, acknowledged Shaheen’s absence will be dearly missed while confirming that the touring side will add another spinner to the Playing XI for the second Test.

“Shaheen is our main bowler who provides us early breakthroughs. Unfortunately, he is not available so we have added another spinner, Nauman Ali and he will be playing tomorrow,” Babar confirmed.

“We will go with two pacers tomorrow and try to continue our match-winning performance,” he maintained.

Babar then went on to comment on the Green Shirts’ historic and record-breaking triumph over Sri Lanka in the first Test while claiming that the team always tries its best to produce such performances.

“As a team, we focus on record-breaking performances. Every player takes his responsibility sincerely and tries to give his hundred percent,” Babar asserted.

“As a unit, we are doing good so far. In the end, there are also some weak areas and we will try to work hard and come up more strongly,” he concluded.

The second Test between Pakistan and the hosts Sri Lanka will be played from July 24 to 28 at the same venue, meanwhile, the Green Shirts have a 1-0 lead in the two-match Test series after their historic win in the first match.

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