Photo: Collected
Kusal Mendis is set to lead Sri Lanka in Tests for the first time; the responsibility has fallen to him after Dhananjaya de Silva stepped down as captain. Even before the end of the T20 series against Pakistan, Sri Lanka have announced a 15-member squad for the Test series that is part of the World Test Championship.
Pacer Eshan Malinga and wicketkeeper-batsman Anjala Bandara have made the squad for the first time. Left-arm pacer Dilshan Madushanka, who last played this format three years ago, has also returned to the Test squad.
Pathum Nissanka, who was injured on the tour of England, is also in the squad. The batter injured his hamstring in the limited-overs series last month, and efforts to make a full recovery are still ongoing. If he regains fitness before the first Test, he will travel to Pakistan with the team.
Sri Lanka will leave for the tour of Pakistan on 9 November. The two Tests of this series, part of the World Test Championship, will be held in Rawalpindi and Lahore.
Sri Lanka Test squad:
Kusal Mendis (captain), Pathum Nissanka, Pasindu Sooriyabandara, Dinesh Chandimal, Kamindu Mendis, Sonal Dinusha, Dhananjaya de Silva, Anjala Bandara, Kesara Nuwantha, Prabath Jayasuriya, Milan Rathnayake, Lahiru Kumara, Asitha Fernando, Dilshan Madushanka and Eshan Malinga.
