Uncapped Pathum Nissanka included as Sri Lanka announce Test squad for West Indies Tour

Sri Lanka announced their 17-member squad for the upcoming two-match Test series against West Indies, starting from 21^st March in Antigua.

Opener Dimuth Karunaratne, who missed the home series against England due to thumb fracture, has fully recovered from injury and will lead the side for the Test series in the Caribbean. Before the Test series, he will also captain Sri Lanka for the three-match ODI series against West Indies.

All-rounder Dhananjaya de Silva has also recovered from injury and included in the Test squad for the two-match series. He suffered from a thigh injury during Sri Lanka’s tour of Sri Lanka played last year.

On the other hand, uncapped batsman Pathum Nissanka is expected to make his Test debut for Sri Lanka against West Indies. The 22-year old has been a consistent performer in the domestic competition and has a splendid average of 67.54 in first-class cricket. Earlier this month, he featured for Sri Lanka in the three-match T20I series played against West Indies.

Express pacer Lahiru Kumara has been ruled out of the Test series after being tested positive for Covid-19. Kasun Rajitha has been named as a replacement for Kumara for this two-match Test series. The pacer suffered a hamstring injury in the Boxing Day Test against South Africa played at Centurion last year.

Middle-order batsman, Minod Bhanuka, has been dropped after not doing much with the bat against South Africa and England.

Initially picked for the Test series, Former Captain and all-rounder Angelo Matthews will not be available after returning home to Sri Lanka to address a personal matter. Roshen Silva, Pathum Nissanka and Dasun Shanaka have been included in the Test squad in order to provide Sri Lanka plenty of options in the batting department.

Sri Lanka’s Test squad: Dimuth Karunaratne (captain), Dinesh Chandimal, Lahiru Thiramanne, Niroshan Dickwella. Roshen Silva, Dasun Shanaka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Oshada Fernando, Pathum Nissanka, Ramesh Mendis, Wanindu Hasaranga, Lasith Embuldeniya, Vishwa Fernando, Asitha Fernando, Suranga Lakmal, Dushmantha Chameera, Angelo Matthews (withdrawn).