BAN vs SL: There comes a major boost for Sri Lanka as Wanindu Hasaranga has come out of Test retirement and been named in Sri Lanka’s 17-man squad for the two-Test series against Bangladesh, starting Friday. The lineup bolsters many experienced as well as newbies making it a well-balanced squad. Sri Lanka has also recalled seamer Lahiru Kumara and included uncapped offspinner Nishan Peiris in the contingent.
Other notable inclusions in the lineup are seamers Milan Rathnayake & Asitha Pernando. The latter is still recovering from his hamstring injury which kept him out of the ODI leg of the tour. Hasaranga had earlier announced his Test retirement in August 2023 to completely concentrate on white ball cricket. In four Tests played so far, Hasaranga has scalped four wickets at an average of 00.75. He had last played a Test in April 2021, against Bangladesh at home. With the two-match Test series ending on April 3, Hasaranga will be unavailable for the first three games for his IPL franchise Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Kumara wouldn’t have received a call-up in Bangladesh’s Test lineup if Asitha’s injury hadn’t come into the limelight. But his inclusion came on the back of his impressive four-wicket haul in the third ODI against Bangladesh. Kumara hasn’t played a Test match in a year. He was last named in a Test squad in 2018 without making his way into the playing XI. He has taken 24 wickets in his last four first-class matches. Overall, he has picked up 153 wickets in 37 games at an average of 24.79.
Sri Lanka Test squad is a combination of Experienced as well as New Players
Meanwhile, the rest of the Sri Lankan Test Squad is the same that played a one-off Test against Afghanistan earlier in 2023 with Dhananjaya set to lead. Uncapped opener Lahiru Udara is with the team but his inclusion at the top of the order in place of Dimuth Karunaratne or Nishan Madushka looks slim. The rest of the batting order will include Kusal Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal, and de Silva, with Sadeera Samarawickrama likely taking the gloves.
The rest of the four spots in the Playing XI will be based on the spin-to-seam ratio Sri Lanka opt for. Prabath Jayasuriya has been a mainstay in the Test side since his debut, though he has primarily plied his trade at home since then. Peiris and Ramesh Mendis also offer spin-bowling options, though Jayasuriya and Hasaranga are likely to be their first choice. It is expected that Sri Lanka go for two seamers, which would leave Kumara, Kasun Rajitha, Vishwa Fernando, and Chamika Gunasekara competing for the remaining two slots.
The first Test of the two-match Test series between Sri Lanka & Bangladesh will begin on 22nd March on the grounds of Sylhet.
BAN vs SL: SL squad for Bangladesh Tests
Dhananjaya de Silva (capt), Kusal Mendis, Dimuth Karunaratne, Nishan Madushka, Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal, Sadeera Samarawickrama (wk), Kamindu Mendis, Lahiru Udara, Wanindu Hasaranga, Prabath Jayasuriya, Ramesh Mendis, Nishan Peiris, Kasun Rajitha, Vishwa Fernando, Lahiru Kumara, Chamika Gunasekara
Also read, Cricket Australia postpones T20I Series against Afghanistan
