Pakistan captain Younus Khan won the toss Saturday and sent Sri Lanka in to bat in the first cricket Test at the Galle International Stadium.

Pakistan opted for a lone specialist spinner in Saeed Ajmal on a wicket freshened up by early morning showers, leaving out seasoned leg-spinner Danish Kaneria.

Veteran batsman Mohammad Yousuf returned to Pakistan's Test side after 18 months, after breaking links with the unauthorised Indian Cricket League.

Sri Lanka brought in left-arm spinner Rangana Herath to partner Ajantha Mendis in the absence of world-record holder Muttiah Muralitharan, who was ruled out with a knee injury.

The three-match series is the first between the two nations since armed gunmen attacked the Sri Lankan team bus in the Pakistani city of Lahore on March 3 as the players were on their on way to resume a Test match.

The attack injured seven Sri Lankan players and killed eight local security men.

The first Test starts 13 days after Pakistan defeated Sri Lanka in the final of the World Twenty20 in England on June 21.

Pakistan: Younus Khan (captain), Salman Butt, Khurram Manzoor, Mohammad Yousuf, Misbah-ul-Haq, Shoaib Malik, Kamran Akmal, Umar Gul, Saeed Ajmal, Mohammad Aamer, Abdur Rauf. 12th man: Fawad Alam.

Sri Lanka: Kumar Sangakkara (capt), Malinda Warnapura, Tharanga Paranavitana, Mahela Jayawardene, Thilan Samaraweera, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Angelo Mathews, Ajantha Mendis, Rangana Herath, Thilan Thushara, Nuwan Kulasekera. 12th man: Chamara Kapugedara.

Umpires: Daryl Harper (AUS) and Ian Gould (ENG)

TV umpire: Kumar Dharmasena (SRI)

Match referee: Alan Hurst (AUS)

AFP

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