Sri Lanka's Kusal Mendis set to make first appearance as Test captain

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Sri Lanka is set to lock horns with Pakistan in the two-match Test series. The first match is scheduled to be played from November 9 at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium in Punjab province of Pakistan.

Ahead of the series, Sri Lanka has released the 15-member squad, which also marks Kusal Mendis’ first stint as captain in the traditional format of the game.

Mendis, who is already in charge of Sri Lanka’s T20I and ODI teams, replaced Dhananjaya de Silva a few days ago as Test captain. The 35-year-old de Silva stepped down from the position by saying that he wanted to pass the mantle to the next generation.

Star batsman Pathum Nissanka has also been included in Sri Lanka’s squad. He is expected to regain full fitness before the first Test match. The right-handed batsman sustained a hamstring injury during the ODI series against England last month.

🇱🇰 SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT | Sri Lanka Tour of Pakistan 🇵🇰 Here is your 15-member Sri Lanka Test Squad for the upcoming 2-match Test series against Pakistan! 🏏 #PAKvSL https://t.co/vEE90nI0rz

— Sri Lanka Cricket 🇱🇰 (@OfficialSLC) October 13, 2026

The team will travel to Pakistan for two Tests starting November 9, with matches scheduled in Rawalpindi and Lahore as part of the ongoing World Test Championship cycle.

Sri Lanka is ranked seventh on the WTC points table with a points percentage (PCT) of 33.33, while Pakistan is at the bottom with a PCT of 4.63.

Kusal Mendis’ international career statistics

So far, Mendis has played 75 Test matches for Sri Lanka and has garnered 4836 runs. With a top score of 245 runs, he also has 23 half-centuries and 10 centuries. The right-handed batsman has also donned the Sri Lankan ODI colours in 159 games and has amassed 5160 runs. He has 36 half-centuries and seven tons with a top score of 143 runs. In T20Is, the 31-year-old cricketer has represented Sri Lanka in 111 T20I matches and has registered 27104 runs. His career-best score in T20Is is 86 runs, and he also has 20 half-centuries.

Sri Lanka’s squad

Kusal Mendis (c), Pathum Nissanka, Pasindu Sooriyabandara, Dinesh Chandimal, Kamindu Mendis, Sonal Dinusha, Dhananjaya De Silva, Anjala Bandara, Keshara Nuwantha, Prabath Jayasuriya, Milan Rathnayaka, Lahiru Kumara, Asitha Fernando, Dilshan Madushanka, Eshan Malinga.

(With PTI Inputs)

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