The Test match will be the first time the two sides have faced each other in the longest format of the game, with Sri Lanka becoming Afghanistan’s sixth opponent in Test cricket. Afghanistan last played a Test match in June last year, which was their first match in the format for over two years. They were beaten by 546 runs by Bangladesh in Mirpur in their last outing.

Sri Lanka’s last Test match was at home in July 2023 against Pakistan, where they lost both Test matches in the two-match series by heavy margins. They currently sit bottom of the table in the 2023-25 World Test Championship cycle, and are the only team who have yet to score a point.

The Test match against Afghanistan will not be part of the WTC.

Few details beyond the venue (Sinhalese Sports Club Ground, Colombo) have been announced for the series, including the squads for both sides. Sri Lanka will have a new captain this time, in Dhananjaya de Silva.

Rashid Khan did not take part in Afghanistan’s most recent T20I series against India after undergoing back surgery, which also forced him to withdraw from the Big Bash and SA20. It’s unclear whether he will be fit for the Test match.

The Test match is the first leg of an all-format series between the two sides, with three ODIs and three T20Is to follow. The tour will wrap-up with the final T20I in Dambulla on February 21.

Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan one-off Test match: Match timings and venue

Date: February 2-6 2024
Venue: Sinhalese Sports Club Ground, Colombo