Last verified: November 14, 2026, 06:24 UTC (11:24 a.m. PKT).
Pakistan and Sri Lanka will play the second Test of their 2026 series at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium from November 17 to 21, after the Pakistan Cricket Board moved the fixture from Lahore because of rising smog levels. The match is scheduled to start at 9:30 a.m. Pakistan Standard Time (UTC+05:00), or 4:30 a.m. UTC, with the toss scheduled for 9:00 a.m. PKT.
The change puts both Tests of the series in Rawalpindi. The first ended in a draw on November 13, leaving the teams level ahead of the second match, which carries points in the 2025–2027 ICC World Test Championship (WTC). Final playing XIs and a match-specific pitch report have not been confirmed in the sources reviewed.
The PCB said the second Test was moved from Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore to Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium because of prevailing weather conditions and increasing smog in Lahore. The board’s announcement identifies air quality concerns as the reason for the venue change; it does not provide a match-day air-quality forecast or say what conditions will be in Rawalpindi during the Test.
The relocation means the scheduled five-day match will follow the opening Test at the same Rawalpindi venue. According to the ICC’s report, that first match finished as a draw: Pakistan declared at 434 for 9, Sri Lanka replied with 446, and Pakistan closed its second innings at 284 for 8. The result left no series winner yet.
The PCB’s ticket announcement confirms the November 17–21 dates and Rawalpindi venue. The published schedule lists a 9:30 a.m. PKT start, equivalent to 4:30 a.m. UTC on November 17. Pakistan Standard Time is UTC+05:00 year-round, so the conversion does not cross a date boundary. The toss is scheduled for 9:00 a.m. PKT, half an hour before the first ball.
Fans should check official PCB or broadcaster notices for ticket access, broadcast partners and any late operational changes. The PCB announced that tickets for the five days would be available through designated TCS Express Centres and gave prices by enclosure. That ticket notice does not establish which broadcast service is available in every country.
No verified, match-specific pitch assessment for the second Test was available in the official sources reviewed by the time of this update. The first Test’s high totals and draw show how that match unfolded, but they do not establish how the next pitch will play. Ground preparation, weather, moisture and the final surface can all affect the balance between bat and ball.
For that reason, claims that the second match will definitely favor pace, spin or batting would be premature. The teams’ selections and the toss may offer the clearest clues on match morning. The Lahore smog that prompted the move is a confirmed reason for changing venues, not evidence of Rawalpindi’s air quality or playing conditions on each day.
Pakistan’s updated squad announced by the ICC includes captain Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Salman Ali Agha, Mohammad Abbas, Aamer Jamal and debutant Saqib Khan, among others. Saqib took seven wickets in the first Test and was named Player of the Match, while Saud Shakeel scored 93 in Pakistan’s first innings and 97 in the second. Those performances make them notable names to watch, but selection in the second Test XI is not guaranteed by squad membership.
Sri Lanka’s announced touring group is led by Kusal Mendis and includes Dhananjaya de Silva, who made 167 in the first Test, and Kusal Mendis, who scored 119. Their substantial first-Test contributions make them central figures for the visitors. The final XIs, including any changes for tactical or fitness reasons, remain subject to confirmation at the toss.
The series is part of the ICC World Test Championship 2025–2027 cycle. A draw in the first Test means the second match offers both teams another opportunity to earn WTC points. The precise standings impact depends on the result and the competition’s points system; this preview does not project a table change before play begins.
The practical stakes are clear: Pakistan and Sri Lanka each have one more Test in this series, and a win would secure the match result while a draw would leave the series without a winner. Whether either side can turn its first-Test performance into a decisive advantage will depend on its batting, bowling and conditions across five scheduled days.
At Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi, Pakistan. The PCB moved it from Lahore because of increasing smog levels there.
It is scheduled to start at 9:30 a.m. PKT (UTC+05:00) on November 17, 2026, which is 4:30 a.m. UTC. The toss is scheduled for 9:00 a.m. PKT.
No match-specific pitch report or final playing XIs were confirmed in the official sources reviewed for this update. The XIs are expected to be known at the toss.
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