{
  "id": 19102825,
  "title": "Pakistan field four debutants for first Test; Sri Lanka opt to bowl",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/09/pakistan-field-four-debutants-for-first-test-sri-lanka-opt-to-bowl-19102825",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-09T04:52:07.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Island Sri Lanka",
    "slug": "the-island-sri-lanka",
    "url": "http://island.lk/pakistan-field-four-debutants-for-first-test-sri-lanka-opt-to-bowl/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Sri Lanka opted to field first in the first Test against Pakistan at Pindi Stadium in Rawalpindi. With bright sunlight illuminating the field, Kusal Mendis, making his Test debut as captain, believed the quicker bowlers would have an advantage on the pitch. \"It looks like a fast-bowling wicket and the first session will be very important,\" he stated. Pakistan decided against fielding spinner Prabath Jayasuriya and instead fielded four fast bowlers: Lahiru Kumara, Asitha Fernando, Dilshan Madushanka, and Milan Rathnayaka. Their spin options included Sonal Dinusha, Dhananjaya de Silva, and Kamindu Mendis. Pakistan's captain, Babar Azam, acknowledged that the first morning would be challenging for his side. The Pakistani squad featured four debutants for the Test, including batters Tayyab Ariff and Mohammad Taha, spin-bowling allrounder Arafat Minhas, and quick bowler Saqib Khan. Despite these lineup changes, Pakistan remains at the bottom of the current WTC standings, while Sri Lanka holds the seventh position.",
  "summary": "Sri Lanka won the toss and chose to bowl first in the first Test against Pakistan in Rawalpindi. Under bright sunshine at the Pindi Stadium, Kusal Mendis, captaining Sri Lanka in Test cricket for the first time, said there was enough green on the pitch to indicate the quicker bowlers could exploit the first session. […]",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 4,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "ESPNcricinfo",
        "title": "Pakistan field four debutants for first Test; Sri Lanka opt to bowl",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/09/pakistan-field-four-debutants-for-first-test-sri-lanka-opt-to-bowl",
        "published": "2026-11-09T04:29:20.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Yahoo Sports",
        "title": "Sri Lanka captain Mendis wins toss, sends a new-look Pakistan lineup in to bat in 1st cricket test",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/09/sri-lanka-captain-mendis-wins-toss-sends-a-new-look-pakistan-lineup",
        "published": "2026-11-09T04:44:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Daily Times",
        "title": "Pakistan’s Saad wins gold at PCA Bangkok GP",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/09/pakistans-saad-wins-gold-at-pca-bangkok-gp",
        "published": "2026-11-09T05:16:37.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}