Dinesh Chandimal and Sumathipala select the 15-man Sri Lanka squad for UAE tour

Sri Lankan Test skipper Dinesh Chandimal and Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) President Thilanga Sumathipala picked the 15-man squad for UAE tour without the selectors. The selection committee led by Sanath Jayasuriya resigned during the India tour after the whitewash at the hands of the visitors. However, the squad is yet to be announced officially.

Sri Lanka cricket is in a complete turmoil and the situation got even worse when Chandimal and the board President had to select the squad in the absence of selectors. Sumathipala, who just returned from abroad on Monday, called Chandimal hurriedly, and along with him selected the squad; he needed little inputs from the captain. Sri Lanka cricket board has been finding it rather difficult to appoint the next selection committee. The board had earlier announced 25-men provisional squad but they had to shortlist it to 15 soon as the first Test will be played on 28 September at Abu Dhabi.

None of the former selectors want to be a part of SLC

According to Cricketage, Sri Lanka Cricket is trying to bring new selectors on board but no one is willing to take the responsibility courtesy Thilanga Sumathipala. All the past national selectors have refused to be a part of the setup again until Sumathipala and his full Executive Committee is changed and a new administration is in place.

The situation is clearly deteriorating further with no signs of redemption. SLC is now hoping to get past the women’s national team and Provincial team selectors to be appointed in order to confirm the 15-member squad officially for the Pakistan series.

The island nation will play 2 Tests, 5 ODIs and 3T20Is against Pakistan on their tour to UAE. They will also make their debut in day-night Tests as the second match of the series will be played under lights. The third T20I of the series is also set to be played in Lahore as Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) tries to bring cricket back to its nation.