Abu Dhabi: The Sri Lankan cricket team led by Tillakaratne Dilshan arrived yesterday afternoon for their Test series against Pakistan starting with the first Test on Tuesday at the Zayed International Cricket Stadium.

Dilshan's squad arrived in Dubai yesterday afternoon and proceeded by bus to their hotel in Abu Dhabi.

Out of the initial squad announced for the three Tests, Sri Lanka will miss the services of Shaminda Eranga due to a shoulder injury.

Eranga played in the recent Test series against Australia and was replaced on the eve of their departure by uncapped Kosala Kulasekara, who was a member of the Lankan A side that toured England earlier this year.

The Sri Lankan side has retained 13 members from the Test squad that played in their 1-0 loss to Australia at home recently .

The Sri Lankans will be training at the Zayed Stadium this afternoon.

Free admission

Meanwhile Dilawar Mani, CEO of the Emirates Cricket Board said admission to the first Test will be free.

"We expect the two sides that have some world class players to dish out an exciting series and it is a great opportunity for the fans in the UAE to witness high class cricket."

The second Test will be played in Dubai from October 26 to 30 while the third will be held in Sharjah from November 3 to 7.

The Sri Lankan squad for the subsequent five one-day international matches and a T20 international will be named later.

Prior to their departure to the UAE the team took part in a traditional religious ceremony where they were blessed by a Buddhist monk at the Sri Lanka Cricket headquarters in Colombo.

Sri Lanka will be keen to end a 11-match losing streak since their last win against India at Galle in July 2010.

This year, Sri Lanka lost an away series against England 1-0, before being beaten by Australia by a similar margin at home.

 

Sri Lanka's Test squad

Tillakaratne Dilshan (capt), Angelo Mathews (vice-capt), Tharanga Paranavitana, Lahiru Thirimanne, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Prasanna Jayawardene, Dinesh Chandimal, Rangana Herath, Suraj Randiv, Chanaka Welegedara, Suranga Lakmal, , Dhammika Prasad, Nuwan Pradeep, Kaushal Silva and Kosala Kulasekara