Aamir Sohail to Commentate in SL vs Pak #WTC23 series

Aamir Sohail will be in the commentary box for Pakistan’s upcoming two match Test series with Sri Lanka which will be a crucial series for both sides in the ICC World Test Match Cricket Championship. Sohail has been a regular presence in the commentary box in Sri Lanka in recent years for series such as Sri Lanka vs West Indies and Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh. He is currently calling the series against Australia. The former Pakistan Captain has also covered the first two seasons of the Lanka Premier League. 

Aamir has been kept away from the commentary box for Pakistan’s home bilateral assignments by the likes of Ramiz Raja and Najam Sethi who he doesn’t see eye to eye with. He’s briefly been involved in the Pakistan Super League in 2019 as a pundit and 2021 as a commentator while Ehsan Mani was heading the Pakistan Cricket Board. There is therefore a degree of irony that he is calling the series in Sri Lanka at a time when Ramiz is chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board as Pakistan will be touring Sri Lanka for the first time in 7 years. Misbah, Younis, Herath and Sangakkara were still playing Test Cricket when Pakistan last visited Sri Lanka – giving an indication of just how long it has been for two sides who have been familiar opponents over the years. 

Pakistan’s Assignments Aamir Sohail Has Commentated on:

2021 Pakistan Super League Karachi leg

2018 Asia Cup

2016 Pakistan in Ireland ODIs

2016 Pakistan in England Tests (Channel 5)

2015 Pakistan in Bangladesh tour

Sohail’s presences for Pakistan’s matches have been far and few between. Notice how all the international matches above were matches which were away fixtures for Pakistan bilaterally. 

Pakistan won a Test series in Sri Lanka in 2006 and 2015, but lost the series in 2009, 2012 and 2014. Sri Lanka have been playing Test Cricket more regularly than Pakistan in recent months, taking on Bangladesh away and Australia at home. The hosts will start the Tests as marginal favourites in what should be a close fought series between the Asian nations.