Colombo [Sri Lanka], May 4 (ANI): Opener Dimuth Karunaratne will once again captain the Sri Lanka team during their two-match Test series against Bangladesh later this month.
Selectors named an 18-player squad for the crucial red-ball series on Wednesday, with a host of key players missing as Sri Lanka chase crucial World Test Championship points.
SL batter Roshen Silva has opted out of the Bangladesh tour, with former skipper Angelo Mathews and right-hander Dhananjaya De Silva asked to help Karunaratne at the top of the Sri Lanka order.
Karunaratne is currently ranked sixth on the MRF Tyres Men’s ICC Test Batting Rankings and he will be expected to provide plenty of runs and experience to a Sri Lanka side that is entering a crucial period in the World Test Championship with a home series against Australia to follow the matches in Bangladesh.
With Suranga Lakmal retired, Lahiru Kumara on the outer and Dushmantha Chameera concentrating on white-ball cricket, Sri Lanka’s seam attack is likely to be led by left-arm Vishwa Fernando.
The other seamers included in the squad are Kasun Rajitha, Asitha Fernando, Chamika Karunaratne and uncapped Dilshan Madushanka, with Mathews expected to provide plenty of support.
Left-arm spinner Lasith Embuldeniya will lead Sri Lanka’s spin attack, with Ramesh Mendis and Praveen Jayawickrama other options that Karunaratne will have at his disposal.
The two-Test series commences in Chittagong on May 15, with the series then moving to Dhaka for the second and final Test on May 23.
Sri Lanka currently sits in fifth place on the World Test Championship standings, having won two Test matches and drawn another two during the 2021-23 period.
Bangladesh have won just one Test during that same period and are in the eighth position and currently only sitting ahead of England.
Sri Lanka squad: Dimuth Karunaratne (c), Kamil Mishara, Oshada Fernando, Angelo Mathews, Kusal Mendis, Dhananjaya De Silva, Kamindu Mendis, Niroshan Dickwella, Dinesh Chandimal, Ramesh Mendis, Chamika Karunaratne, Suminda Lakshan, Kasun Rajitha, Vishwa Fernando, Asitha Fernando, Dilshan Madushanka, Praveen Jayawickrama and Lasith Embuldeniya. (ANI)