Manasinghe, Madushka in squad for Pakistan series
View(s):Off-spinner Lakshitha Manasinghe has been recalled to Sri Lanka’s Test squad for the upcoming two-match series against Pakistan starting on July 16 in Galle. Manasinghe, 23, was first included in the Test side in 2022 to face Australia in a two-match series but the former Nalandian failed to earn the national cap.
The first of the two matches will begin next Sunday at Galle before the teams head to Colombo for the final match starting July 24 at the SSC ground.
Manasinghe played in the four-day series against South Africa ‘A’ last month where he collected 12 wickets including two five-fers across two matches played in Pallekele and P. Sara Oval. In his last completed first class match in the current Major League Cricket Tournament, he returned figures of 2/71 and 6/61, contributing towards SSC’s innings and 13-run win over Negombo CC.
Manasinghe’s inclusion means there’s no place for Dushan Hemantha, the 29-year-old leg-spinner. Hemantha, who is currently with the national ODI team, was part of the Sri Lanka Test team against Ireland but did not get a game. The selectors have dropped left-arm spinner Lasith Embuldeniya and has replaced him with Praveen Jayawickrema in the 15-man squad. Ramesh Mendis and Prabath Jayasuriya will lead the spin attack.
The squad includes three fast bowlers in Asitha Fernando, Vishwa Fernando and Kasun Rajitha but selection committee sources said that Asitha–who is recovering from dengue and will only be available for the second Test–will be replaced by left-arm seamer Dilshan Madushanka. Madushanka, 22, has impressed in white-ball cricket and, with Lahiru Kumara and Dushmantha Chameera both out with injuries, the selectors have brought in the young seamer to the red-ball format. There’s no place for Milan Ratnayake, the right pacie who was in the squad for the Ireland series.
The batting group comprised those who played the Ireland series last month. This means Pathum Nissanka is out of the side as the selectors have preferred Nishan Madushka to open batting with skipper Dimuth Karunaratne. Madushka, who made his debut during the New Zealand series, hit a double ton (205) in his third international match against Ireland. Sadeera Samarawickrema has also retained his place in the side.
| Sri Lanka: Dimuth Karunaratne (Captain), Kusal Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal, Dhananjaya de Silva, Kamindu Mendis, Nishan Madushka (wk), Sadeera Samarawickrama, Ramesh Mendis, Prabath Jayasuriya, Lakshitha Manasinghe, Praveen Jayawickrema, Asitha Fernando/Dilshan Madushka, Vishwa Fernando, Kasun Rajitha
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