UNCAPPED left-arm spinner Praveen Jayawickrama and Dilshan Madushanka left-arm fast have been named in the Sri Lankan squad to play Bangladesh in the two-Test series starting today.
Kusal Mendis was ejected again, while Kusal Perera was out through injury. The batting group, otherwise, consisted largely of the players who toured the West Indies last month. Angelo Mathews returned to the squad after leaving the West Indies tour for personal reasons. Offspin bowling fielder Ramesh Mendis has been selected again.
In what could be an indication of the pitches that could be expected at Pallekele, no less than five quakes were selected. Not among them was Dushmantha Chameera, who is on a personal vacation with his wife expecting a child. Returning to the squad, though, was Lahiru Kumara, who missed the West Indies tour after testing positive for Covid-19. Kasun Rajitha remained unavailable due to injury.
Surprisingly for a home series, only one expert spinner was named. Legspinner Wanindu Hasaranga was in the squad, but Lakshan Sandakan’s left wrist was not. Ramesh Mendis and Dhananjaya de Silva – both mostly battered – are on hand to provide support with their offspin. Twenty-two-year-old Jayawickrama’s selection was due to the absence of Lasith Embuldeniya, who suffered a severe soft tissue injury at fields in the second West Indies Test. The selectors are understood to have considered two other left-arm spinners in place, but both were ruled out; Duvindu Tillakaratne was injured, while Prabath Jayasuriya failed to pass a fitness test. Meanwhile, Madushanka, 20, was chosen based on potential. He had played for Sri Lanka at under-19 level, but has only three first-class matches on his record. Both Tests will be played in Pallekele. When Bangladesh last visited for an assignment in the longest format, they compiled the series 1-1, recording their first victory on Sri Lankan soil in Colombo. (Cricinfo)