This weekend, Pakistan head to Sri Lanka for a short, sharp two-Test series against their Asian neighbors. While much of the cricketing world is beginning to focus on the upcoming ODI World Cup in a few months’ time, there is plenty to be excited about in this series, with a budding rivalry developing between Sri Lanka and Pakistan over recent years. We breakdown all the latest Sri Lanka vs Pakistan cricket odds and deliver our SL vs PAK Test cricket betting predictions ahead of this series.
To say there’s unfinished business between Sri Lanka and Pakistan is an understatement. In fact, the only unfortunate thing about this series is the fact that it’s just confined to two Test matches.
The taste of defeat will still be sour in the mouth of Pakistan after suffering consecutive T20 losses to Sri Lanka late last year to lose to Asia Cup. This is compounded by the fact that the last time Pakistan came to Sri Lankan shores, the Test series was split 1-1 ending in an unsatisfactory draw for both teams. Now, hungry for revenge, Pakistan again arrived in Sri Lanka looking for a series win.
| ℹ️ Tournament: | Pakistan tour of Sri Lanka 2023; Two Test matches |
| 🏟️ Venues: | Stadiums in Galle and Colombo, Sri Lanka |
| 🗓️ Dates: | Sunday 16 July to Friday 28 July |
Before we dig into our SL vs PAK cricket betting tips, let’s take a look at the latest Sri Lanka vs Pakistan odds from bookmakers in Sri Lanka:
We knew this series would be tight, but just how tight is a surprise. Bookies have all three results for this two-Test series almost identical. A Pakistani victory is ever-so-slightly favored with odds of 2.50 (6/4), ahead of a Sri Lankan win at 2.75 (7/4). Closely behind, another drawn series pays 3.00 (2/1).
As mentioned, these two have met recently in similar circumstances. This time last year, Pakistan came to Sri Lanka for a two-Test series. The visitors made a strong start, coming out of the blocks fast in the series to win the opening Test by four wickets, with an impressive 344/6 in the fourth innings. However, this glory was short-lived, as Sri Lanka put on a dominant batting display to win the second Test by 246 runs and tie up the series.
Looking across all three formats, here’s how the past five meetings between Sri Lanka and Pakistan have panned out:
With plenty of competition between the two sides and Sri Lanka on a three-game winning streak, can Pakistan yet again start the series strong by winning the opening Test? Read on for our SL vs PAK cricket betting tips.
Sri Lanka have played just four Tests this year, winning two and losing two. Their opening two matches were away in New Zealand, where they dropped a tight two-wicket loss to start the series before being swept away by an innings and 58 runs in the second Test. Against Ireland, however, they bounced back strong, winning both matches in Galle by at least an innings.
So far this year, Pakistan have been relatively inactive in Tests, only drawing one match against New Zealand. This result came after a torrid run in late 2022, where Pakistan were sunk three times in a row by a fiery England before another draw with New Zealand.
Looking for some high cricket odds? Then you’re in the right place because our Pakistan tour of Sri Lanka 2023 betting preview below has all the best 2023 Test Sri Lanka vs Pakistan predictions. Here are the three bets we see having the most value this week:
2 (67%)
(33%) 1
Despite the fact that Pakistan are coming into this match off the back of two draws and three losses, they actually haven’t been playing too badly. The Pakistani batting lineup has been firing, and it’s only the Bazball antics of England that have meant their record looks the way it does. Likewise, against Ireland, Sri Lanka were piling on the runs.
It’s hard not to see this series going 1-1 again, similar to this time last year. Both teams will have plenty of runs in them, it will simply come down to performance under pressure and individual performances with the ball. We find it tough to separate the two teams and see plenty of value in the odds for this series to be a draw.
1 (50%)
(50%) 1
Shaheen Shah Afridi is making his Test return this match and will be eager to claim his 100th Test wicket. Should Pakistan bowl first, we say that one of the big fast bowler’s searing yorkers will get past the Sri Lankan openers early on and shatter the stumps to draw first blood in this Test series.
Even if Sri Lanka bowl first, they have plenty of threats to take an early wicket by knocking over the stumps. Considering that both sides have not played Test cricket in some time, and it will be a new wicket on the opening morning of a series, we can expect batsmen to be a little out of touch. The chances of a ball being missed are much higher than usual, making these odds by cricket betting apps of 4.75 (15/4) exceptional.
2 (67%)
(33%) 1
Flowing on from our argument above, we don’t see any batsman making a whale of a score in the opening Test. While both teams have produced some big totals in recent Tests, it simply seems unlikely that we’ll see a 150+ in the first Test, given the frequency of these kinds of scores and how evenly matched Sri Lanka and Pakistan are. For a return of 1.72 (8/11), betting on no scores over 154.5 is a strong value wager.
Sri Lanka yet again host Pakistan in a two-Test series, and there’s plenty of unfinished business between these two sides and even more attractive odds by live bookies. With the past series being drawn and Sri Lanka picking up bragging rights at the Asia Cup, Pakistan will be desperate for a result here. However, we say this series will yet again end in a stalemate, but that’s not to say there still isn’t some excellent value in the betting markets to be extracted across the next few weeks.
