Mike Hesson asks Pakistan ground staff to prepare pace-friendly pitches for Sri Lanka Tests

Pakistan Prepare Pace-Friendly Pitches for Sri Lanka Tests as Mike Hesson Seeks a Red-Ball Reset

Pakistan are planning to use home conditions to address a difficult run of results in Test cricket. Head coach Mike Hesson has reportedly instructed ground staff to prepare lively, pace-friendly pitches for the upcoming two-match series against Sri Lanka, with the aim of giving fast bowlers more influence and helping the team build confidence in the longest format.

The decision reflects a broader effort to sharpen Pakistan’s Test cricket. The side has lost six of its seven matches this year, including a 3-0 defeat in England, while its two-Test series against the West Indies finished level at 1-1. Pakistan currently sit ninth in both the ICC Test rankings and the World Test Championship standings, making the Sri Lanka series an important opportunity to regain momentum.

Hesson’s pitch strategy aims to strengthen Pakistan’s pace attack

Journalist Saleem Khaliq reported that Pakistan’s management wants the pitches to offer meaningful assistance to seamers. The plan is not simply about producing fast surfaces for the sake of spectacle: it is also intended to give Pakistan’s bowlers conditions that reward accuracy, movement and sustained pressure across long spells.

According to Khaliq, the team’s think tank believes that preparing lively pitches at home could help players adapt to demanding conditions abroad. If Pakistan’s quicks learn to make the most of pace and bounce on home soil, the experience may prove useful on future overseas tours, where visiting teams often control the tempo through their fast bowling.

For batters, the approach presents a different challenge. A surface with carry and movement can make the opening sessions especially demanding, increasing the value of sound technique, patience and careful shot selection. Pakistan’s top order will need to balance positive scoring with the discipline required to see off the new ball.

Rawalpindi and Lahore set to host the two Tests

The first Test is scheduled to begin at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on November 9 and run through November 13. It will be Pakistan’s first home red-ball match of the year. The teams will then move to Lahore for the second Test at Gaddafi Stadium, scheduled for November 17 to 21.

Both venues can produce different challenges depending on preparation and weather. The Rawalpindi pitch will be closely watched for its pace, bounce and potential assistance to seamers, while conditions in Lahore could shape a different contest as the series progresses. The pitch preparation will therefore be a major talking point for supporters, analysts and fantasy-cricket followers making a prediction about which team has the edge.

The series forms part of the 2025–2027 ICC World Test Championship cycle. With points at stake and Pakistan looking to climb the standings, the results could have consequences beyond the immediate contest. A strong home performance would offer a much-needed boost, while dropped points would leave the team with further ground to recover in the championship race.

Babar Azam returns to four-day cricket

Pakistan’s preparations also include a focus on individual form. Hesson has reportedly advised Test captain Babar Azam to play domestic four-day cricket before the Sri Lanka series. Babar is currently featuring in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, giving him an opportunity to spend time at the crease and work through the demands of red-ball batting in a competitive setting.

Domestic cricket can provide a valuable bridge between international appearances, particularly for batters seeking rhythm and confidence. Unlike limited-overs matches, four-day cricket requires players to manage long periods at the crease, adjust to changing conditions and respond to sustained bowling pressure. For Babar, regular time in the middle could help him prepare for a series in which the ball may move off the surface.

The Pakistan Cricket Board has also reportedly made participation in domestic competitions mandatory for centrally contracted players. The policy is intended to strengthen the domestic structure and ensure leading players remain involved in first-class cricket. It may also give selectors and coaches a clearer view of players’ form and fitness before international assignments.

Warm-up match offers an early look at conditions

The Sri Lanka tour began with a three-day warm-up match between the PCB Patron’s XI and the visiting side at Islamabad Club on November 4. The fixture, scheduled to conclude on November 6, gives both teams a chance to assess local conditions before the opening Test.

Warm-up games are especially useful when teams expect unfamiliar or deliberately prepared surfaces. Sri Lanka’s batters can use the match to adjust to Pakistan’s pace and bounce, while the hosts can evaluate how their bowlers respond to the available conditions. The practice fixture may not settle the series prediction, but it can offer important clues about the likely balance between bat and ball.

Coaching changes add another layer to Pakistan’s rebuild

The Sri Lanka series comes during a period of change within Pakistan’s coaching setup. The Pakistan Cricket Board made significant adjustments during the recent England tour after the team’s disappointing results. Head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul were dismissed following the defeat at Lord’s, while Misbah-ul-Haq resigned from his positions as batting consultant and selection committee member.

Hesson, who leads Pakistan’s white-ball side, took over as interim Test coach before the third match against England and has continued in the role for the home series. Former Australian domestic cricketer Ashley Noffke has also joined the support staff as an assistant and bowling coach. The new setup will be under pressure to deliver quick improvements, particularly in a format where Pakistan’s recent results have been below expectations.

Pakistan have enjoyed the better record in Test meetings with Sri Lanka, and their most recent Test series encounter came in July 2023, when Pakistan won 2-0 in Sri Lanka. The sides also met in a three-match T20I series in October 2026, which Pakistan won 2-1. However, past results offer only limited guidance in Test cricket, where conditions, team selection and the performance of key players can quickly change the balance.

Pakistan’s pitch strategy, Babar’s return to domestic red-ball cricket and the coaching changes all point to a team attempting to reset its approach. The central question is whether pace-friendly home conditions can translate into stronger performances and, ultimately, better results overseas. For fans, the series promises a compelling test of Pakistan’s fast bowlers, batting resilience and ability to turn preparation into a meaningful World Test Championship campaign.