Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq won the toss under overcast conditions and elected to bat first against Sri Lanka in the first test on Wednesday.
Pakistan has not played a test for seven months but retained the same team that defeated Sri Lanka in the famous run-chase at Sharjah in January to level that series.
Since then, Sri Lanka has been on a roll and won the Asia Cup, World Twenty20 and the test series in England before losing to South Africa at home in July.
Sri Lanka’s most accomplished batsman Mahela Jayawardene will be playing his last test at his favourite Galle International Stadium and will retire after the second test at his home ground in Colombo.
