This is the sixth Test series between Sri Lanka and Pakistan in the last six years. In the last five Test series, Sri Lanka have won two, Pakistan have won once while the remaining two have been drawn.
Pakistan last won a series in Sri Lanka in 2005/06. They clinched the two-Test series 1-0 when they won the second Test in Kandy by eight wickets.
In Tests between Pakistan and Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka, the home team have been bowled out for for under 100 twice. They were bundled out for 71 in Kandy in 1994 while they were bundled out for 73 at the same venue 12 years later
Kumar Sangakkara has hit nine Test centuries against Pakistan, the most by any player in Tests against Pakistan. His average of 80.19 is the best among batsmen who have played against Pakistan (minimum qualification of 10 innings).
Marvan Atapattu is the only batsmen to score a double century against Pakistan in Sri Lanka. He scored an unbeaten 207 in Kandy in 2000. The highest individual score by a Pakistan batsmen in Sri Lanka is 196 by M Hafeez in 2012 at the SSC.
Mahela Jayawardene's 2,297 runs in 22 Tests in Galle and 2,863 runs in 26 Tests at the SSC are the most by any batsman at a single ground.
Pakistan have the second best W/L ratio in Sri Lanka with 1.50. In 18 Tests, they have won six and lost four. Only Australia have a better W/L ratio in Sri Lanka. In 13 Tests, they have won six and lost just once, giving them a W/L ratio of 6.
In the current Pakistan team, Saeed Ajmal is the leading wicket-taker in Tests played in Sri Lanka. He has taken 29 wickets in six Tests at an average of 30. In the Sri Lankan team, Rangana Herath has taken 30 wickets in seven home Tests against Pakistan at an average of 31.46.
Pakistan, who had floated to third place in the ICC rankings despite not playing any cricket since January, will drop to sixth if they lose the series.