Just five days after the end of the Test series against Australia, Sri Lanka will host Pakistan for a short tour. The two Test matches will be played on July 16 and July 24, at Galle and Colombo, respectively.

Pakistan last travelled to the island seven years ago, back in 2015, when they won the three-match Test series 2-1. The Misbah-ul-Haq-led team had ridden on the back of Younis Khan and Yasir Shah’s performances with the bat and ball, respectively, and clinched the first game before the hosts made a strong comeback in the second Test. However, a fine unbeaten 171 by Younis allowed the visitors to beat Sri Lanka by seven wickets in the third Test, as they won their first series in the country since 2005-06.

Shah, who had picked up 24 wickets in 2015, returns to the Test side for the upcoming series. The 36-year-old leg-spinner last played a five-day match for Pakistan in 2021, and has since been sidelined due to a thumb injury. The visitors have also called up spin all-rounder Mohammad Nawaz, who was injured for the Test series against Australia. Uncapped spin all-rounder Salman Ali Agha has been given his maiden call-up.

Pakistan landed in Sri Lanka on July 6 and will play a warm-up game against a Cricket XI from July 11 at the Colts Cricket Club Ground in Colombo, before travelling to Galle for the first Test.

SL v PAK 2022: Schedule, match list and timings for the Test series

*All timings local

July 11 – July 13: Pakistan v Sri Lanka Cricket XI, 3-day warm-up match, Colts Cricket Club Ground, Colombo, 10 am

July 16 – July 20: 1st Test, Galle International Stadium, Galle, 10 am

July 24 – July 28: 2nd Test, R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo, 10 am