It is back to the basics for Pakistan cricket team which will play the first of its three Tests from June 17 at Galle against hosts Sri Lanka.

The Green-shirts managed to defeat the visiting Zimbabweans in the first home series since the attack on the Sri Lankan team six years ago, but Test cricket is a different ball game. Is the Pakistan team ready to give Sri Lanka a tough time at home? Let’s look at the advantages and disadvantages for Pakistan, ahead of the series!

Misbah ul Haq - Advantage

The return of the most successful Test captain in the history of Pakistan will boost the team on and off the field. Misbah didn’t play for either the T20 or the ODI side during the Zimbabwean series and was present in the commentator’s box as an expert; but the way fans showered their love on him can’t be described in words. He not only has a huge win against Bangladesh on his credit (in the last series Pakistan played) but he also would like to prove to critics that there is no better captain than him currently in Pakistan.

Weak bowling - Disadvantage

Without Saeed Ajmal, Pakistan’s bowling is a shadow of what it used to be 12 months back. In order to win a Test match one side has to bowl out the other side twice. It is highly unlikely that Ehsan Adil will feature in the attack in place of Imran Khan (along with Junaid Khan and Wahab Riaz possibly) but in Pakistan, anything is possible. However, the return of Mohammad Hafeez to bowling and the emergence of Yasir Shah the leg spinner will boost Pakistan’s chances.

Younis Khan - Advantage

No batsman in Pakistan has scored more runs in 98 Tests than Younis Khan has. In his last seven Test matches, he has scored as many as five centuries and helped the side beat the mighty Australians less than a year back. He is likely to complete his century of Tests during the series and if he manages to score a couple of centuries here and there, he might even overtake Javed Miandad as the leading run scorer for Pakistan.

Kumar Sangakkara - Disadvantage

If the Pakistanis have Younis Khan, the Sri Lankans have Kumar Sangakkara, who demolished bowling attacks during the World Cup 2015. He scored as many as four centuries in consecutive matches and in his last eight ODIs crossed 100 five times.

He is equally impressive in Tests and in his last appearance in whites for his country he scored a double century against New Zealand. In his last Test against Pakistan (at Galle, where the first Test is to be played), he scored a double century. God Save Pakistan!

No Akmal - Advantage

This is Pakistan’s strongest batting attack since the days of Inzamam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Yousuf and Younis Khan. There is a little discussion as to who will open the innings with Mohammad Hafeez but one thing is certain - Azhar Ali will bat at number 3, Younis Khan at 4 and Misbah ul Haq at 5, whereas the late order will feature Asad Shafiq at number 6 and the impressive Sarfraz Ahmed at number 7. Since there is no Akmal - Kamran or Umar - in the national squad, Pakistan might have a chance to do well in Sri Lanka.

Age is just a number - Disadvantage

The last time Pakistan won a Test series in Sri Lanka was a decade ago and since then, captains have tried, but failed to defeat Sri Lanka. Their selectors get to select the best side unlike Pakistan where the inclusion of youngsters is the last thing on the mind of the selection panel. Out of the 15 players in the Pakistan squad, eight (including the captain and the deputy) are over 29 whereas in Sri Lanka, nine players are under 29 and that includes the captain Angelo Matthews and the vice captain Lahiru Thirimanne.

Monsoon - Both Advantage and Disadvantage

Playing in Sri Lanka has its moments - picturesque grounds, amazing crowd and quality cricket - but it goes down the drain literally when rain starts. The monsoon is cricket’s biggest enemy when it is being played in Sri Lanka and more often than not, teams have been a victim of rain in the region.