[6] Several players in Sri Lanka's squad opted not to travel for the series,[7] with Lahiru Thirimanne and Dasun Shanaka named as ODI and T20I captains respectively.

[8] Despite Pakistan failing to reach the semi-finals of the 2019 Cricket World Cup in England, Sarfaraz Ahmed was retained as the captain of the team for the tour, with Babar Azam named as vice-captain.

[18] Following the first Test, Sri Lanka's captain Dimuth Karunaratne expressed his regret in not playing in the limited-overs matches, and said that "Pakistan is now safe for cricket".

[21] In March 2009, the Sri Lankan cricket team was attacked by gunmen ahead of the second Test match at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, and had not played a full series in Pakistan since.

[23] In July 2019, the SLC sent a security expert to assess the situation in Pakistan,[24] with Sri Lanka Cricket saying they were "likely" to play a Test match in the country.

[29][30] On 9 September 2019, Sri Lanka Cricket met with players who were selected in a preliminary squad for the tour, to confirm with each individual if they would travel or not to Pakistan.

[43] As a result of the Test series being agreed, the PCB moved the dates of the final of the 2019–20 Quaid-e-Azam Trophy to accommodate the international fixtures.

[52] As a result, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) rescheduled the second ODI match, moving it back one day to 30 September 2019, to allow the groundstaff more time to prepare the outfield.

[59] Afterwards, Pakistan's head coach and chief selector Misbah-ul-Haq and team captain Sarfaraz Ahmed admitted that losing a series 3–0 to a second-string side had left them with "lots of questions to answer".

[63] Early on the fifth and final day, Sri Lanka declared their first innings, after Dhananjaya de Silva had scored his century.

[64] Pakistan's Abid Ali and Babar Azam both scored unbeaten hundreds, before the teams shook hands, with the match finishing as a draw.

[69] In reply, Shan Masood and Abid Ali made an opening stand of 278 runs, the second-highest partnership for the first wicket for Pakistan in a Test match.

[73] Pakistan only needed 16 balls on the morning of day five to dismiss Sri Lanka, with Naseem Shah taking his first five-wicket haul in Test cricket.

[78] Ahead of the Test series, Suranga Lakmal was ruled out of Sri Lanka's squad with dengue fever, with Asitha Fernando named as his replacement.