SL vs PAK | Azhar Ali focusses on preparations to win the Test series in Sri Lanka

Ahead of the Test series against Sri Lanka, Pakistan batter Azhar Ali said preparations are going well in all three departments as Sri Lanka are a tough team to beat in their own conditions.

While speaking on his side's preparations for the two-match Test series against Sri Lanka in their home, the ex-Pakistan Test skipper said the team has adjusted to the weather well and the team is working hard on all three departments of the game.

"We had a great day today (Friday), coming here in Sri Lanka, we have to get used to the conditions here and the weather was brilliant today," Azhar Ali said in a video posted by the Pakistan Cricket Board.

"We enjoyed a lot be it our fielding session, batting or bowling. We are trying to get used to the conditions and we had enjoyed a lot today."

The top-order Pakistani batter admitted that Sri Lanka has been a tough place to play cricket but said the sweet memories of their last series win in 2015 will boost their morale to win another Test series in the island nation after seven long years. 

"Sri Lanka tour has always been very challenging, Sri Lanka do very well in their home conditions. But we performed very well on our last tour and won the series. Now we are coming here after seven years, we would like to win the series here,” he added.

Pakistan had last toured Sri Lanka in 2015 and had won the three-match Test series by a margin of 2-1 under the leadership of Misbah-ul-Haq. Azhar also was part of that team.

Azhar Ali expecting big things from the series

Azhar believes that irrespective of the conditions, piling up big runs and picking 20 wickets will be important to win a Test match in Sri Lanka.

"Whatever the conditions may be, to win a Test match it is important for a team to take 20 wickets and for that you try your best to score as many runs so that the other team can be dismissed.”

Azhar also revealed the mantra shared by the skipper Babar Azam and the members of the coaching staff.

"But we will try to prepare ourselves in all three departments to win the Tests and the message from the captain and coaches is to collectively prepare in such a way that we win," added Azhar.

With the bat, Azhar has been in superb form during the first half of the County Championship season at New Road, scoring over 500 runs in the English red ball tournament for Worcestershire.

Azhar will be looking to add to his 94 Test caps and 7,021 runs for his country before returning to Worcestershire's squad for the final four County Championship games of the English summer in September.

Pakistan have a three-day warm-up match from July 11 to 13 before playing the first Test in Galle (July 16-20) and the second one in Colombo (July 24 to 28).