This momentous event holds specific significance for Afridi, because it marks his return to the Test format precisely a 12 months after struggling an unlucky damage on the similar Galle floor.
During his earlier outing, Afridi was agonisingly near the century mark, standing at 99 Test wickets. However, destiny dealt him a merciless blow as he sustained an damage whereas valiantly making an attempt to stop a boundary, leading to an ungainly touchdown.
Since then, he has eagerly awaited the chance to renew his Test profession and contribute to Pakistan’s bowling prowess.
Reflecting on his return, Afridi expressed his gratitude, acknowledging that accidents are an inevitable a part of an athlete’s life. Nonetheless, he’s delighted to be again in motion, decided to make his mark within the longest format of the sport as soon as extra.
“Injuries are a part of an athlete’s life, but it is good to be back,” Afridi mentioned on the finish of Pakistan’s two-day warm-up fixture towards a Sri Lanka Cricket President’s XI, which led to a draw at Hambantota.
Leading as much as the much-anticipated Test sequence opener, Pakistan engaged in a two-day warm-up fixture towards a Sri Lanka Cricket President’s XI, which finally led to a draw. This supplied Afridi and his teammates with useful preparation forward of their difficult encounter in Galle.
As cricket fanatics eagerly await the graduation of the primary Test, all eyes will probably be on Afridi as he strives to achieve the exceptional milestone of 100 Test wickets. His return to the fold symbolizes his resilience and willpower to beat adversity, and followers world wide will probably be eagerly cheering him on as he resumes his quest for excellence on the worldwide stage.
The century of Test wickets “would be a big achievement for me” and he has had an prolonged wait to achieve the milestone, he added.
“It’s tough to be away from cricket, but time has helped me learn a lot.”
The two sides are each shadows of the Test powers they as soon as have been, and are starting the lengthy quest to attempt to qualify for the subsequent ICC World Test Championship ultimate, to be held in 2025.
The hosts are in seventh place and the guests sixth within the present ICC Test rankings.
In final 12 months’s sequence, Pakistan gained the primary Test by 4 wickets whereas Sri Lanka gained the second by 246 to sq. the sequence, with Shaheen out of the assault. Both matches have been performed in Galle.
In the latest warm-up match Shaheen bowled at searing tempo with deadly seam, taking three wickets for 36 in 12 overs as Pakistan dismissed the opposition for 196.
“I am very excited to be making my Test comeback in the country where I was injured,” he mentioned.
Sri Lanka will probably be seeking to change Asitha Fernando, who has gone down with dengue fever, with uncapped left-arm pacer Dilshan Madushanka.
After a formidable begin to his white-ball profession, 22-year-old Madushanka has performed six ODIs and 11 T20Is, and is eyeing a Test debut after being named in Sri Lanka’s squad of 16 for the primary Test.
He was not too long ago Player of the Match within the 2023 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier ultimate towards the Netherlands, taking three for 18 in a wonderful new-ball spell.
Off-spinner Lakshitha Manasinghe is the opposite new face within the hosts’ squad.
But he must cope with a number of different spinners for a spot within the group, amongst them Prabath Jayasuriya and Ramesh Mendis, the recalled Praveen Jayawickrama, Kamindu Mendis, and middle-order batsman Dhananjaya de Silva.
De Silva is the inheritor obvious to the Test captaincy and has been named as deputy to Dimuth Karunaratne, who’s recovering from a hamstring damage and had mentioned he needs to step down forward of the brand new WTC cycle, however was requested by the selectors to proceed.
As cowl for Karunaratne the selectors recalled Pathum Nissanka, who has figured principally in white-ball cricket since taking part in his final Test towards Australia at Galle in July 2022.
Squads:
Pakistan for each Tests: Babar Azam (captain), Abdullah Shafique, Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Huraira, Shan Masood, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan (vice-captain/wk), Sarfraz Ahmed (wk), Salman Ali Agha, Mohammad Nawaz, Aamer Jamal, Abrar Ahmed, Hassan Ali, Naseem Shah, Nauman Ali, Shaheen Shah Afridi.
Sri Lanka for first Test: Dimuth Karunaratne (captain), Nishan Madushka, Kusal Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal, Dhananjaya de Silva (vice-captain), Pathum Nissanka, Sadeera Samarawickrama (wk), Kamindu Mendis, Ramesh Mendis, Prabath Jayasuriya, Praveen Jayawickrama, Kasun Rajitha, Dilshan Madushanka, Vishwa Fernando, Lakshitha Manasinghe.
(With AFP inputs)
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com