Pathum Nissanka out of Pakistan Tests; Lahiru Udara replaces him

Pathum Nissanka will miss Sri Lanka’s two-match Test series against Pakistan as he is still recovering from a left hamstring injury, and wicketkeeper-batter Lahiru Udara has been named as his replacement.

Nissanka had been part of the original Test squad subject to fitness clearance, but he could not recover in time. The first Test starts on 9 November in Rawalpindi, with Kusal Mendis leading Sri Lanka.

The injury

The opener will sit out both Tests. The same hamstring problem had already kept him out of Sri Lanka’s recent T20I series and the ODI tri-series in Pakistan, which also involves England and the hosts.

That tri-series has gone on without him. Sri Lanka beat England by 2 wickets on 22 October, after losing to Pakistan by 37 runs on 18 October.

Who is Lahiru Udara

Udara has played Test and T20I cricket for Sri Lanka. Earlier in 2026 he made a career-best 188 in the World Test Championship series against West Indies.

He is already part of Sri Lanka’s ODI squad for the tri-series and will join the Test squad ahead of the series.

What’s next

Sri Lanka still have an ODI tri-series fixture against England on Thursday, 29 October, at 2:00 PM IST. The first Test against Pakistan begins on Monday, 9 November, at 10:30 AM IST.

The second Test is scheduled for Lahore from Tuesday, 17 November, also at 10:30 AM IST. The series is part of the World Test Championship cycle.