Young pacer in line for Test debut as Sri Lanka name squad for Pakistan series
Sri Lanka have named a strong 16-member squad for the two-match Test series against Pakistan that begins on July 16.
After an impressive start to his white-ball career, left-arm pacer Dilshan Madushanka is eyeing a Test debut after being named in Sri Lanka’s squad for the two Tests against Pakistan.
The 22-year-old has played 6 ODIs and 11 T20Is so far, and was named in the squad for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022 before injury struck him down.
He was recently the Player of the Match in the 2023 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier final against Netherlands, picking up 3/18 in an impressive new-ball spell.
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Dimuth Karunaratne continues as captain despite him recently revealing his wish to step down from the role ahead of the new ICC World Test Championship cycle.
Off-spinner Lakshitha Manasinghe is the other new face in the squad. The off-spinner was called up to the Test squad for the matches against Pakistan last year as cover for Maheesh Theekshana, but did not get a debut.
There are plenty of spinners fighting for places in the XI. Manasinghe is joined by the likes of Prabath Jayasiruya, Praveen Jayawickrama, Ramesh Mendis and Kamindu Mendis. Dhananjaya de Silva also offers plenty of overs as spinner aside from his role as a middle-order batter.
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Nishan Madushka and Sadeera Samarawickrama are the wicket-keeping options in the squad.
The series begins on July 16 in Galle before the second Test starts on July 24 in Colombo.
Sri Lanka squad: Dimuth Karunaratne (c), Nishan Madushka (wk), Kusal Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal, Dhananjaya de Silva, Pathum Nissanka, Sadeera Samarawickrama (wk), Kamindu Mendis, Ramesh Mendis, Prabath Jayasuriya, Praveen Jayawickrama, Kasun Rajitha, Dilshan Madushanka, Vishwa Fernando, Lakshitha Manasinghe
