Sri Lanka Name 15-Man Test Squad for Pakistan Tour — Kusal Mendis to Lead From November 9
By NajamSports Team | October 13, 2026
Sri Lanka Cricket has officially named its 15-member squad for the two-match Test series against Pakistan, and I have to say — this is exactly the kind of announcement that sets the tone for a tour. The media release came out on October 13, and the headline act is no surprise: Kusal Mendis leads the side as Test captain, just five days after taktaking over the Test captaincy from Dhananjaya de SilvaThis will be Mendis's first squad announcement as the man in charge of Sri Lanka's red-ball future, and the selectors have handed him a fascinating mix of battle-hardened veterans and fresh faces.
The series starts on November 9 in Rawalpindi and forms part of the ICC World Test Championship 2025–27 cycle, so there are real points on the line — not just bragging rights.
The full 15-member squad
- Pathum Nissanka — travels only if declared medically fit
- Pasindu Sooriyabandara
- Dinesh Chandimal
- Kamindu Mendis
- Sonal Dinusha
- Kusal Mendis (captain)
- Dhananjaya de Silva
- Anjala Bandara
- Keshara Nuwantha
- Prabath Jayasuriya
- Milan Rathnayaka
- Lahiru Kumara
- Asitha Fernando
- Dilshan Madushanka
- Eshan Malinga
What catches my eye in this selection
Two names jumped straight out at me: Anjala Bandara and Keshara Nuwantha. These are the new blood in the squad, and their inclusion tells you the selectors are already thinking about the next cycle, not just this series. Nuwantha's selection alongside Prabath Jayasuriya gives Sri Lanka a genuine spin duo to work with, and on Pakistani pitches — which have increasingly assisted spin in the last couple of years — that could matter more than people think.
Then there is the Nissanka situation. The selectors have been honest: he only travels if he is medically cleared. That is a big "if" — Nissanka is Sri Lanka's most reliable red-ball batter right now, and losing him would punch a hole at the top of the order. Sooriyabandara would likely be the beneficiary, which would be a huge moment for the youngster on a tough tour.
The experience core is solid: Chandimal, Dhananjaya de Silva, and Mendis himself have hundreds of Tests' worth of know-how between them. De Silva remaining in the side as a player after stepping down as captain is, in my opinion, a masterstroke of man-management — you do not want his off-spin and middle-order grit sitting at home when the new captain is finding his feet.
Why this series matters for both sides
Let us be honest about the bigger picture. Pakistan will be hosting this series while their whiwhite-ball squads continue to evolveand a home Test series against Sri Lanka is exactly the kind of assignment where Pakistan is expected to bank full WTC points. Sri Lanka know this. That is why the squad is not a developmental one — it is a serious, competitive group.
Rawalpindi hosting the opener is interesting in itself. Pindi has produced some flat decks and some sharp ones over the years, and if the pitch takes turn late, Jayasuriya against Pakistan's middle order becomes the contest of the series for me. Pakistan's own spinners will be watching this squad announcement closely — the selectors have basically dared them to prepare turning tracks.
My analysis: what to watch for
Here is what I will be tracking between now and November 9:
- Mendis the captain, Mendis the batter. Keeping wickets and captaining in all three formats is a heavy load. The real question is whether the extra responsibility costs him runs — Sri Lanka cannot afford a lean series from their leader.
- Nissanka's fitness race. His medical clearance is the single biggest sub-plot of the build-up. Without him, Sri Lanka's top order looks a lot thinner.
- The debut question. If Nuwantha or Bandara get a cap in Pakistan, it signals a genuine generational shift in Sri Lankan red-ball cricket.
- Pakistan's reply. The home side has not yet named its squad, and their selection — especially the spin department — will now be made with this Sri Lankan group in mind.
Conclusion
A fresh captain, a blend of experience and youth, and two new names to learn — Sri Lanka's Test squad for the Pakistan tour has more storylines than a typical squad announcement. The first Test in Rawalpindi on November 9 cannot come soon enough, and I will be breaking down Pakistan's squad the moment it is announced.
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Read more
- Kusal Mendis named Sri Lanka's new Test captain as Dhananjaya de Silva steps down
- Sri Lanka's ODI tri-series squad: Kusal Mendis to lead against Pakistan and England
Sources
- Sri Lanka Cricket — Media Release, 13 October 2026 (official 15-member squad announcement)
- Daily Mirror (Colombo) — squad report, 13 October 2026