Sri Lanka announce 16-member squad for first Test vs Pakistan

Sri Lanka Cricket announced the 16-member squad on Thursday, July 13, for the first Test of the upcoming two-match series against Pakistan. The squad has also been approved by Sri Lanka’s Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs, Roshan Ranasinghe. The team will be led by Dimuth Karunaratne, while Dhananjaya De Silva will be his deputy.

Seamer Asitha Fernando was selected in the squad, however, he won’t be able to play as he is suffering from ‘dengue’. Hence, Dilshan Madushanka has been brought into the team in his place. Madushanka has played six ODIs and 11 T20Is for his side and now will be eager to make his Test debut against Pakistan. The 22-year-old is already in the limelight as he was the most expensive player at the recent Lanka Premier League 2023 auction. The left-arm seamer was picked up by Jaffna Kings for US$ 92,000. 

Apart from him, the 23-year-old spin-bowling allrounder, Lakshitha Manasinghe, has also got a maiden call-up to the Sri Lanka squad. The Colombo-born cricketer has 1111 runs and 124 wickets to his name in first-class cricket. Now, speaking of the series, the first Test between Sri Lanka and Pakistan will begin on Sunday, July 16, at Galle International Stadium, in Galle.

Shaheen Afridi will look to achieve a special milestone as Pakistan begin Sri Lanka tour

Meanwhile, Pakistan have also named a strong squad for the upcoming series led by Babar Azam. The left-arm fast bowler, Shaheen Afridi, who co-incidentally played his last Test against Sri Lanka at Galle in July 2022, has made a return to the Test team. The 23-year-old is just one wicket away from completing 100 wickets in Tests as he’s currently sitting on 99 scalps from 24 matches at an average of 24.86.

Notably, Pakistan and Sri Lanka last faced each other in a Test series in 2022 which got tied 1-1. Hence, the two teams will be eager to get a result in the upcoming series.

Sri Lanka’s squad for the first Test vs Pakistan:

Dimuth Karunaratne (c), Nishan Madushka, Kusal Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal, Dhananjaya De Silva (vc), Pathum Nissanka, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Kamindu Mendis, Ramesh Mendis, Prabath Jayasuriya, Praveen Jayawickrama, Kasun Rajitha, Dilshan Madushanka, Vishwa Fernando, Laksitha Manasinghe

Pakistan squad for two-match Test series:

Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan (vc & wk), Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Hasan Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Huraira, Mohammad Nawaz, Naseem Shah, Noman Ali, Salman Ali Agha, Sarfaraz Ahmed (wk), Saud Shakeel, Shaheen Afridi, and Shan Masood.