Sri Lanka Test Squad for Pakistan Tour 2026: Kusal Mendis Named Captain, Full 15-Member List

Sri Lanka Cricket has announced a 15-member Test squad for the two-match series against Pakistan in November 2026. Kusal Mendis will lead the team for the first time in Test cricket after Dhananjaya de Silva stepped down from the role. The squad was confirmed on October 13, 2026 through an official media release from the board.

The series forms part of the ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 cycle and arrives right after the white-ball leg of the tour. Pakistan and Sri Lanka first meet in the ODI tri-series with England before the red-ball contest begins in Rawalpindi on November 9. With both teams sitting low in the WTC table, every point from this series carries real value.

Kusal Mendis Begins a New Era as Test Captain

Dhananjaya de Silva, 35, decided to step away from the Test captaincy, saying he wanted to pass the mantle to the next generation. Kusal Mendis, 31, was the natural choice to take over. Mendis has been the white-ball captain of Sri Lanka since May 2026, when he took charge of the ODI side from Charith Asalanka and the T20I side from Dasun Shanaka. The Pakistan tour now puts him at the helm across all three formats of the game, a rare honour in modern cricket.

Mendis brings serious experience to the job. He has played 75 Tests and scored 4,836 runs at the top level, with 10 centuries and 23 half-centuries to his name. That record makes him one of the most battle-hardened players in the dressing room. Leading a touring side in Pakistan, where the home team knows every inch of the conditions, will test his tactical brain from the first morning of the series in Rawalpindi.

The good news for Sri Lanka is that de Silva remains in the squad as a senior batter and a handy spin option. His calm presence in the dressing room can only help a new captain who is finding his feet in the longest format. A smooth handover between the old and new leaders gives the touring party stability at a time when several young players are also stepping into bigger roles.

A new captain often brings fresh energy to a group, and Mendis has a reputation for aggressive, positive cricket. Fans of Sri Lanka will hope that his fearless style as a batter carries over into his leadership. The two Tests in November will show how quickly he can stamp his authority on the side in the five-day game.

Two New Faces Earn Their First Test Call-Ups

Fast bowler Eshan Malinga has earned his first Test call-up after becoming a regular in the shorter formats for Sri Lanka. Malinga has taken 44 wickets in 19 first-class matches at an average of 31.15, and the selectors see him as a genuine strike option with the new ball. Pakistani pitches can offer early movement for quick bowlers who bend their backs, and Malinga has the pace to trouble top-order batters.

Wicketkeeper Anjala Bandara is the other new face in the squad. The 22-year-old has forced his way into the group with outstanding first-class numbers. Bandara averages 65.85 in 31 matches, with seven centuries, seven half-centuries and a highest score of 200 not out. Those are the numbers of a player who simply could not be ignored. Bandara comes in as cover for the keeping role after Niroshan Dickwella, who was part of the plans for the home Tests against India in August, was left out of the squad.

Call-ups like these show that the selectors are rewarding strong domestic form rather than picking on reputation alone. Both players can expect to train with the main group during the three-day warm-up match in Islamabad from November 4 to 6. A Test debut for either of them in Rawalpindi would not surprise anyone, especially if conditions suit an extra quick or if the team management wants a specialist keeper in the eleven.

Sri Lanka have a proud history of turning young talent into Test regulars, and the tour of Pakistan is the perfect stage for the next generation. Malinga and Bandara will know that a strong performance on this tour can lock down a place in the side for years to come.

Returns, Exits and the Complete Squad

Left-arm pacer Dilshan Madushanka has returned to the Test squad and adds welcome variety to the pace attack. Left-arm quicks bring a different angle to right-hand batters, and Madushanka has the swing to make the new ball talk in helpful conditions. Dinesh Chandimal also comes back after leaving the first Test against India in Galle with concussion. His experience in the middle order is a big plus for a touring side.

Opener Pathum Nissanka is in the squad as well, but his participation is subject to fitness. The board has made it clear that Nissanka will travel with the team only after receiving medical clearance. His availability will shape the opening combination, so the team management will watch his recovery closely in the coming weeks.

On the other side of the selection door, five players have missed out. Openers Lahiru Udara and Kamil Mishara were dropped after playing in the second Test against India in Colombo. All-rounder Sahan Arachchige is also out, wicketkeeper Niroshan Dickwella loses his place to Bandara, and fast bowler Vishwa Fernando has been left out of the pace group. Selection for a tough away tour is never easy, and these calls show that the new leadership wants a squad built for the conditions in Pakistan.

The bowling unit looks well balanced on paper. Prabath Jayasuriya and Keshara Nuwantha lead the spin department, with all-rounder Sonal Dinusha offering another turning option after impressing in the recent series against India. The pace attack features Milan Rathnayake, Lahiru Kumara, Asitha Fernando, the recalled Madushanka and the uncapped Malinga. That mix of spin and pace gives Mendis plenty of options for different pitches.

Sri Lanka will play the three-day warm-up match in Islamabad from November 4 to 6 before the first Test in Rawalpindi from November 9 to 13. The second Test follows at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore from November 17 to 21. With Sri Lanka holding a points percentage of 33.33 and Pakistan at the bottom of the table on 4.63, both sides have plenty to play for in the World Test Championship race. The full squad list is given below.

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