Sri Lanka have announced their squad for the two-Test series against Pakistan in November. Fast bowler Eshan Malinga and wicketkeeper Anjala Bandara have been included in the squad.
Left-arm fast bowler Dilshan Madushanka has also returned to the squad. Niroshan Dickwella has been dropped. Kusal Mendis will lead the team as Test captain for the first time.
The two Tests will be played in Rawalpindi and Lahore. The matches are part of the ongoing World Test Championship cycle. The series is scheduled to begin on 9 November.
Maiden Test call-ups for Anjala Bandara, Eshan Malinga
Anjala Bandara has replaced Niroshan Dickwella. Dickwella was recalled for the home Test series against India in August, but has not been selected in the squad this time.
Kusal Mendis was appointed Test captain after Dhananjaya de Silva stepped down. This will be his first Test series as captain on the tour of Pakistan.
Eshan Malinga has been a regular in the shorter formats. This is his first call-up to the Test squad. He has taken 44 wickets in 19 first-class matches, with a bowling average of 31.15.
Twenty-two-year-old Anjala Bandara has been selected for the team on the strength of his outstanding first-class record. After 31 matches, his batting average is 65.85. He has scored seven fifties and seven centuries. His highest score is an unbeaten 200.
Lahiru Udara and Kamil Mishara have also been left out of the team. Both played the second Test against India in Colombo.
Pathum Nissanka, Malinga's fitness will be monitored
All-rounder Sahan Arachchige has also failed to find a place in the team. He was included in the squad for that Test against India.
Dinesh Chandimal has returned to the team. He was ruled out of the first Test in Galle because of a concussion.
Pathum Nissanka's selection depends on his fitness. As with the ODI team, he will travel to Pakistan only if he is declared medically fit. It's the same case for Eshan Malinga.
Sri Lanka's main spin options are Prabath Jayasuriya and Keshara Nuwanthaka. All-rounder Sonal Dinusha is also among the spin options. He performed superbly in the series against India.
Milan Rathnayake, Lahiru Kumara and Asitha Fernando are included in the fast-bowling department. Eshan Malinga and Dilshan Madushanka will also be part of the pace attack. Vishwa Fernando has been left out of the squad.
The first Test will be played in Rawalpindi from 9 to 13 November. The second Test will be held in Lahore from 17 to 21 November.
Sri Lanka are currently in seventh place in the World Test Championship. Their PCT is 33.33. Pakistan are at the bottom, with a PCT of 4.63.
Sri Lanka's Pakistan Test squad: Kusal Mendis (captain), Pathum Nissanka*, Pasindu Sooriyabandara, Dinesh Chandimal, Kamindu Mendis, Sonal Dinusha, Dhananjaya de Silva, Anjala Bandara, Keshara Nuwanthaka, Prabath Jayasuriya, Milan Rathnayake, Lahiru Kumara, Asitha Fernando, Dilshan Madushanka, Eshan Malinga*.
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