The first Test match of the three-Test series between Pakistan and Sri Lanka will be played at Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi from Tuesday (December 31).
This will be the 44th Test match between the two teams and fourth in United Arab Emirates. Pakistan have won 16, lost 10 and drew 17 in 43 previous encounters against Sri Lanka. They have won one and drew two in three matches played in United Arab Emirates.
Pakistan and Sri Lanka have a peculiar head-to-head record, with both teams being more successful in away Tests as compared to home matches. Pakistan, however, can take confidence from the fact that they are the team with the most wins against Sri Lanka.
Overall, Pakistan have had the better of Sri Lanka in head-to-head contests, although the majority of these victories came before Sri Lanka established themselves as genuine competitors in Tests.
Pakistan’s only draws after January 2011 have been against Sri Lanka. The two teams have played each other six times and won one game each in that period.
The Abu Dhabi pitch retained a green tinge on the eve of the match, suggesting seam bowlers may prosper on the first morning, but the captains held contradicting views on how the pitch would play. Misbah-ul-Haq expected the pitch to be slow after the initial period, but Angelo Mathews felt there was a little pace in it.
HIGHEST INNINGS TOTALS:
Pakistan’s 765 for six declared at Karachi in 2008-09 is their highest ever total against Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka’s highest against Pakistan, 644 for seven declared also came in this Test match.
LOWEST INNINGS TOTALS:
Sri Lanka were bowled out for just 71 runs at Kandy in 1994 which is their lowest ever total against Pakistan. Pakistan’s lowest against Sri Lanka is 90 which was made at Colombo in July 2009.
HIGHEST MATCH AGGREGATE:
As many as 1553 runs were scored for the loss of 18 wickets at Karachi in 2008-09 which is the highest match aggregate between the two teams. The highest match aggregate recorded in Sri Lanka is 1348 runs for the loss of 33 wickets at Colombo in July 2009.
LOWEST MATCH AGGREGATE:
The lowest match aggregate between Pakistan and Sri Lanka was recorded at Kandy in 1985-86 when 440 runs were scored for the loss of 29 wickets. As many as 716 runs were scored for the loss of 32 wickets at Sialkot in 1985-86 which is the lowest match aggregate between the two teams on Pakistani soil
HIGHEST INDIVIDUAL SCORES:
The highest individual score by a Pakistani batsman in any Test against Sri Lanka is held by Younis Khan who made 313 at Karachi in 2008-09. Sanath Jayasuriya who made 253 at Faisalabad in 2004-05 holds the record of highest individual score for Sri Lanka against Pakistan.
BEST BOWLING IN AN INNINGS:
Imran Khan’s eight for 58 at Lahore in 1981-82 is the best bowling performance in an innings for Pakistan against Sri Lanka. The record of best bowling performance for Sri Lanka is held by Ravi Ratnayaka who took eight wickets for 83 runs at Sialkot in 1985-86.
BEST BOWLING IN A MATCH:
The distinction of recording the best bowling in a match on either side is belong to Imran Khan who took 14 wickets for 116 runs at Lahore in 1981-82. The best match aggregate by a Sri Lankan bowler against Pakistan is Muttiah Muralitharan’s 10 for 148 at Peshawar in 1999-2000.
PAKISTAN – SRI LANKA TEST ENCOUNTERS :
Venue M Pak won S.L won Draw
In Pakistan 21 8 6 7
In Sri Lanka 18 6 4 8
In Bangladesh 1 1 – –
In Emirates 3 1 – 2
Total 43 16 10 17