Rawalpindi: Pakistan captain Babar Azam has disclosed the team's renewed focus on preparing for the next cycle of the ICC World Test Championship. This strategic shift comes as Pakistan gears up for a two-match series against Sri Lanka on home turf.

According to International Cricket Council, Pakistan has been eliminated from contention for next year's final at The Oval, having won only two Tests in the current cycle. They currently sit in ninth place in the standings with just four fixtures left. In response, Pakistan has opted to inject youth into their squad for the upcoming series, with four inexperienced players added for the opening Test in Rawalpindi on Monday. Babar Azam stated this move aims to cultivate the next generation of Pakistan Test stars in preparation for the 2027-2029 World Test Championship cycle.

Sri Lanka, too, faces a challenging path in this cycle, currently placed seventh in the standings. This series marks Kusal Mendis' first tour as captain after succeeding Dhananjaya de Silva. Despite Sri Lanka's single win in the cycle, Mendis remains optimistic about his team's performance, expressing confidence in their ability to adapt to the conditions in Rawalpindi. The first Test is scheduled for November 9-13, followed by the second Test in Lahore from November 17-21.