Pakistan head coach Mike Hesson has initiated a sweeping restructuring of the national Test team, marked by a new opening partnership and a pivot toward pace-friendly home pitches ahead of the upcoming series against Sri Lanka.
The two-match series is scheduled to begin on November 9 in Rawalpindi, followed by the second Test in Lahore starting November 17. The fixtures represent Pakistan’s first home Test assignment of 2026, despite the national side having already played seven matches across three overseas tours earlier in the year.
Rethinking Conditions Following Difficult Results
The strategic shift follows a challenging run of form in 2026, during which Pakistan lost six of its seven Test matches. The team suffered a 2-0 series whitewash against Bangladesh and a 3-0 defeat against England. Their only victory of the year came during a series against the West Indies, which concluded in a 1-1 draw.
In response to these results, team management has opted to alter its approach to staging Test matches at home. According to reports, Hesson has instructed ground staff to prepare lively, pace-friendly surfaces for both matches against Sri Lanka. Ground crews in Rawalpindi and Lahore are actively working to curate pitches that offer greater assistance to fast bowlers, a strategy designed to help Pakistan adapt and perform more effectively when touring overseas.
Squad Changes and New Combinations
Alongside ground adjustments, the team management is implementing major alterations to the playing XI. Five players who appeared in the final Test against England—Shan Masood, Saim Ayub, Abdullah Shafique, Mohammad Imran, and Mohammad Ali—are no longer part of the team’s immediate plans.
Although Masood registered 95 runs in the first innings of the Birmingham Test, Hesson reportedly believes the side must move forward by giving opportunities to younger players in place of the 37-year-old batter. In the top order, Azan Awais and Abdullah Fazal have emerged as the leading candidates to form Pakistan’s new opening pair.
The pace attack could also see additions, with Mohammad Abbas and Razaullah anticipated to join the national squad after completing a three-day match against Sri Lanka. Both fast bowlers are currently playing for the PCB Patron’s XI and remain strong contenders for selection.
Domestic Cricket Mandate and WTC Outlook
As part of the wider reset, Hesson advised former captain Babar Azam to return to domestic four-day cricket to regain his batting form. Azam is currently competing in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy following the head coach’s recommendation.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has also enforced mandatory participation in domestic competitions, requiring top players to represent their respective regions and departments despite reported reluctance from some squad members.
Pakistan currently ranks ninth among ten teams in the ICC Test rankings, placed only above Zimbabwe, and sits at the bottom of the World Test Championship table. With management aiming to rebound, the PCB think tank has started enacting measures targeted at the next World Test Championship cycle. Officials hope that integrating younger players and adopting a more aggressive strategy will reverse the side’s fortunes as they return to red-ball cricket following a recent victory in a tri-nation ODI series.
