Keeping in mind the forecast for rain and overcast conditions, Pakistan team management is likely to field a pace-heavy bowling unit against Bangladesh in the first Test scheduled between August 21 and 25 at Rawalpindi.
Virat Kohli was on Saturday forced to leave the field after the Indian batting maestro, inadvertently, wore the wrong jersey ahead of their high-profile World Cup clash against arch-rivals Pakistan in Ahmedabad.
Dominant Pakistan took charge of the second Test against Sri Lanka after bundling out the hosts in two sessions for a paltry 166.
Bangladesh registered their first ever Test win over Pakistan after spinners Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Shakib Al Hasan bowled them to a memorable 10-wicket victory.
Wickets fell at a steady rate thereafter, with Jayasuriya striking three times, claiming the wickets of Abdullah Shafique, Babar Azam and Sarfaraz Ahmed to leave Pakistan struggling at 101 for five.
Pakistan registered a comfortable seven-wicket victory to keep their semi-final hopes alive.
A burgeoning third wicket stand between Babar Azam and Abdullah Shafique had kept Pakistan in the contest and the duo continued to frustrate Australia when play resumed.
Mohammed Rizwan will fondly remember the local curator in his prayers for producing a batting beauty
Saim Ayub and Khurram Shahzad received their debut call-ups to Pakistan's squad for the three-match Test series against Australia.
IMAGES from the ICC World Cup match played between Pakistan and Sri Lanka in Hyderabad on Tuesday.
Shaheen and fellow quick Naseem Shah led the way, picking up three wickets apiece during a showcase of swing and pace, which accounted for Jake Fraser-McGurk (seven) and Aaron Hardie (12) in the first powerplay.
IMAGES from Day 3 of the 3rd Test played between Australia and Pakistan at SCG on Friday.
Harry Brook became only the sixth England batter to hit a triple century in Tests as the visitors piled on the runs on Day 4 of the first Test against Pakistan in Multan on Thursday.
They are afraid of grass pitches: Basit Ali's surprising take on Pakistan batters ahead of England Test series
In a nail-biting finish at the MCG, Australia clinched a thrilling two-wicket victory over Pakistan in the first ODI on Monday night.
Babar Azam's side had been in charge after claiming a handy first-innings lead of 149 in the first match of the two-Test series.
Mehidy Hasan Miraz claimed five wickets as Bangladesh bowled out Pakistan for 274 on the second day of their rain-hit second Test at Rawalpindi
'Batting into day three gave us that chance to really have a crack at them on day three -- it probably went better than we expected.'
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Sunday demoted premier pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi to Category B from Category A, and did not offer central contracts to senior players Fakhar Zaman, Iftikhar Ahmed and Osama Mir for the 2024-25 season.
PHOTOS from a memorable chase and a famous win...
Leg-spinner Shah's selection was subject to the 35-year-old clearing a fitness test, chief selector Mohammad Wasim said in a statement.
Faheem and Hasan Ali are expected to regain full fitness before the second Test (12-16 March).
Aiming for their second Cricket World Cup title, Pakistan will be led by Babar Azam and are armed with a strong batting unit that includes Fakhar Zaman, Imam-Ul-Haq, Mohammed Rizwan, Iftikhar Ahmed, and Salman Agha.
Babar Azam was dropped on Sunday, while the pace duo Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah opted to withdraw from the remaining two Tests against England.
Pat Cummins leads Australia fightback after Pakistan take early honours
After a hard day of toil, Pakistan were 9-2 in their second innings at stumps for a slender lead of 21 as they bid to level the two-match series after losing the first test by 10 wickets.
Jamie Smith smashed a counter-attacking 89 before England's bowlers made early inroads into the Pakistan line-up to drag the touring side back into the deciding third and final Test.
Pakistan's experienced wicketkeeper-batter Sarfaraz Ahmed laid out the team's plans to ruin Australia's star batter David Warner's farewell Test series.
Pakistan have dropped plans to conduct "major surgery" on the national team as it included senior players Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan and Shaheen Shah Afridi in the Test squad for the two-match series against Bangladesh.
De Silva brought up his hundred with a boundary off Mohammad Nawaz and got good support from tailender Ramesh Mendis who remained not out on 45.
'First 34 overs in the field cost us. We dropped Warner and such batters ensure they cash in'
Pakistan would be desperate to plug the gaping holes and hope their star players regain form when they open their World Cup campaign against a free spirited Netherlands in Hyderabad on Friday.
Australia batter Usman Khawaja heaped praise on Pakistan skipper Babar Azam by calling him "one of the best batsmen" ahead of the first Test clash between the two cricketing giants.
Head coach Jason Gillispie said Shaheen Afridi understands the "situation" and the break will give him quality time with his family.
IMAGES from the ICC World Cup match played between Afghanistan and Pakistan in Chennai on Monday.
Virat Kohli advanced four slots to ninth position after scores of 38 and 76 in the first Test against South Africa.
IMAGES from Day 3 of the 2nd Test between Pakistan and England in Multan on Sunday.
Sehwag poked fun at Pakistan's history of losses to India in World Cups.
Babar Azam is set to return as Pakistan skipper for their home series against New Zealand, starting April 14.
Australia's cricketing DNA is constructed by meticulousness and Pakistan's by explosiveness.
