Sri Lanka confirmed that star batter Pathum Nissanka would miss the upcoming ICC World Test Championship series against Pakistan as he continues his recovery from injury.

Lahiru Udara has been named as Nissanka’s replacement for the two-Test series that commences in Rawalpindi on 9 November.

Nissanka was included in Sri Lanka’s original Test squad subject to fitness clearance but has been unable to recover in time for the series.

The injury also forced him to miss Sri Lanka’s recent white-ball assignments in Pakistan, namely the T20I series and the ODI tri-series against England and the hosts. 

The island nation recently completed the second-highest run chase in ODI history against England in the aforementioned series.

Udara, meanwhile, will join the Test squad ahead of the series, already being a part of Sri Lanka's ODI squad for the tri-series.

He has previously represented Sri Lanka in Test and T20I cricket and scored a career-best 188 during the World Test Championship series against the West Indies earlier in 2026.

Sri Lanka, led by Kusal Mendis, will begin their two-match Test series against Pakistan on 9 November at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. The second Test is scheduled to take place in Lahore from 17 November.