Umar Gul picked 3-78 and Saeed Ajmal 3-45 while KC Sangakkara top-scored with 78. Gul broke through in only the third over of the match after Sri Lanka, electing to bat, slumped to 30-3 by the ninth over before struggling to 78-5 by lunch at the Dubai cricket Stadium.

Pakistan moved to 42-0 at close. Openers Mohammad Hafeez (18) and Taufiq Umar (20) were at the crease on a day when Pakistani bowlers dominated yet again.

Sri Lanka were forced to make two changes as wicket-keeper batsman Prasanna Jayawardene, who hit a match-saving 120 in the first Test, was ruled out due to abdominal strain. They also left out paceman Nuwan Pradeep, giving a Test cap to wicket-keeper batsman Kaushal Silva and bringing in experienced paceman Dhammika Prasad.

Pakistan brought in left-arm spinner Abdul Rehman for paceman Aizaz Cheema as the only change.