KARACHI: Pakistan squad started their training for the upcoming Test series against Sri Lanka, set to commence on July 16 at Galle International Stadium.

According to the details, 16 players including Pakistan’s all-format captain Babar Azam, ace pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi and wicketkeeper batter Sarfaraz Ahmed, partook in the team’s first training session.

Notably, Pakistan captain Babar Azam was in Saudi Arabia for the pilgrimage of Hajj and returned to his homeland on Monday.

Whereas, ace pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi was in England where he was participating in the ongoing T20 Blast, representing Nottinghamshire.

Right-arm pacer Hasan Ali and top-order batter Shan Masood did not attend the first day of the camp and will join the squad tomorrow.

Meanwhile, spinners Zahid Mahmood and Sajid Khan were specially called to the national team’s camp.

The ongoing training camp will be held in two sessions every day until July 7.

The first session will be from 0900 to 1130 while the second session will be held from 1230 to 1500.

Following the conclusion of the ongoing camp, the national team will depart for Sri Lanka on June 8 and is anticipated to reach the Island a day later.

The Green Shirts will then play a two-day tour match, scheduled on July 10 and 11.

The first Test between Pakistan and Sri Lanka is scheduled to kick off on July 16.

It is worth mentioning here that Pakistan announced a strong 16-member squad for the two-match Test series against Sri Lanka which marked the return of their ace pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi.

The men’s national selection committee has also included uncapped batter Mohammad Huraira and all-rounder Aamir Jamal in the 16-member squad for what will be Pakistan’s first assignment in the third cycle of the ICC World Test Championship.

The squad has been designed keeping in mind the conditions that the team will encounter in Sri Lanka. The team boasts four spinners, four fast bowlers, six specialist batters and two keeper-batters.

Pakistan squad: Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan (vc & wk), Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Hasan Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Huraira, Mohammad Nawaz, Naseem Shah, Noman Ali, Salman Ali Agha, Sarfaraz Ahmed (wk), Saud Shakeel, Shaheen Afridi and Shan Masood

Itinerary of Pakistan’s tour of Sri Lanka:

9 July – Pakistan land in Colombo
11 and 12 July – Warm-up game

16-20 July – First Test at Galle International Cricket Stadium
24-28 July – Second Test at Singhalese Sports Club, Colombo.

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