Sri Lanka Name 15 Player Test Squad for Pakistan Tour, Nissanka Needs a Fitness Pass
Sri Lanka Cricket named a 15 player squad on 13 October for two Tests in Pakistan from 9 November. See all names, the Nissanka injury doubt and WTC position.
Short answer: Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) named a 15 player squad on 13 October 2026 for the two Tests in Pakistan, led by Kusal Mendis. Batter Pathum Nissanka is in the squad only if he is declared medically fit. The first Test starts in Rawalpindi on 9 November. The second is in Lahore from 17 November.
We read SLC's own media release and the ICC's report on the squad on 13 October 2026. This page lists the 15 names, explains the Nissanka doubt, and shows what the two Tests mean for the World Test Championship (WTC) table. Pakistan has not named its Test squad yet.
The 15 players Sri Lanka will bring for the Tests
The squad has 15 names. Kusal Mendis is captain. He was named Test captain on 8 October, as we reported in our page on Kusal Mendis as Sri Lanka's Test captain.
The full list, in the order SLC published it, is below.
- Pathum Nissanka (only if declared medically fit)
- Pasindu Sooriyabandara
- Dinesh Chandimal
- Kamindu Mendis
- Sonal Dinusha
- Kusal Mendis
- Dhananjaya de Silva
- Anjala Bandara
- Keshara Nuwantha
- Prabath Jayasuriya
- Milan Rathnayake
- Lahiru Kumara
- Asitha Fernando
- Dilshan Madushanka
- Eshan Malinga
Nissanka travels only if he passes a fitness check
SLC's release says Pathum Nissanka will travel with the team only if he is declared medically fit. The ICC report says he has been out with a wrist injury since Sri Lanka's August tour of India. SLC has not said when the fitness test will happen.
This matters for Pakistan's bowlers, because Nissanka opens the batting. If he fails the test, SLC has not said who would replace him. The squad does not name a reserve opener, so the choice would come from the 14 other names or a late call-up.
We could not find a medical update from SLC beyond that line. Treat any report of a firm date for his return as unconfirmed until SLC publishes it.
Who is in and who is out
The ICC report says Dilshan Madushanka returns to the Test squad. It also describes Eshan Malinga and Anjala Bandara as first call-ups. We could not confirm those two details on SLC's page, so we mark them as reported.
The ICC also notes two names left out. Opener Lahiru Udara, who scored 188 against the West Indies in June, was not picked. Niroshan Dickwella was also left out. SLC did not give reasons for any selection in the release we read.
For Pakistan, the main point is that the visitors have named a full 15 before the home side has named anyone. That gives Pakistan's selectors time to study Sri Lanka's pace attack and spin options. The Pakistan Cricket Board has not yet announced its Test squad.
| Item | What the sources say |
|---|---|
| Squad size | 15 players (SLC) |
| Captain | Kusal Mendis (SLC) |
| Fitness doubt | Pathum Nissanka, wrist injury (SLC, ICC) |
| Returning | Dilshan Madushanka (ICC report) |
| Reported first call-ups | Eshan Malinga, Anjala Bandara (ICC report) |
| Left out | Lahiru Udara, Niroshan Dickwella (ICC report) |
Dates and venues of the two Tests
The ICC lists the first Test in Rawalpindi from 9 to 13 November and the second in Lahore from 17 to 21 November 2026. Both are part of the 2025 to 2027 WTC. Start times have not been published in the sources we read. For the full fixture list and travel plan, see the page on the Pakistan vs Sri Lanka Test series dates and venues.
The Tests come after the three T20Is, which end on 13 October, and the one-day tri-series that begins on 18 October. Our page on the Pakistan ODI tri-series has those dates.
What the WTC table says before the series
The ICC says Sri Lanka is seventh in the WTC table and Pakistan is ninth. Our reading of the official table on 10 October put Pakistan last of nine on 4.63 per cent, after slow over rate deductions. Sri Lanka had 33.33 per cent from six Tests.
Each Test is worth 12 points for a win. Two Tests give 24 points at most. We explain the sums in the page on the WTC points table for Pakistan. To see how the likely Pakistan players rank before the series, read the guide to checking Pakistan players on the ICC Test rankings.
Common questions
Who captains Sri Lanka in the Pakistan Tests?
Kusal Mendis. SLC named him Test captain on 8 October 2026, and the squad announcement on 13 October confirms he leads the side.
Is Pathum Nissanka definitely playing?
No. SLC says he travels only if he is declared medically fit. The ICC reports a wrist injury from August. No fitness date has been published.
When does the first Test start?
The first Test starts on 9 November 2026 in Rawalpindi and runs to 13 November. The second Test is in Lahore from 17 to 21 November.
Has Pakistan named its Test squad?
No. We found no Pakistan Cricket Board announcement of a Test squad or Test captain for this series as of 13 October 2026.
Do these Tests count for the World Test Championship?
Yes. The ICC says both Tests are part of the 2025 to 2027 cycle, and each win is worth 12 points.
How we verified this
What we checked, where we read it, and what we could not confirm.
Last checked on 13 October 2026, Pakistan time. We read Sri Lanka Cricket's squad release and the ICC report on the squad. The Pakistan Cricket Board website refused automated requests, so we could not read its page. The reported first call-ups and the left out names come from the ICC report only.
About the author
Senior Writer, Public Services and Technology
Shahid joined us in 2024 as an author. He is a senior contributor to Pakistan's leading technology websites. He writes detailed articles, mostly covering his expertise in the latest tech, mobiles, apps, gadgets, and step-by-step guides. His ideology is to help people understand the latest trends and explain complex methods through very easy-to-understand guides.
