No Charith and Thirimanne for Bangladesh Tests
Batter Charith Asalanka will not play Test cricket at least till the T20 World Cup in Australia as he has been asked to focus on the limited-over format in the run-up to the global showpiece in October-November.
Charith Asalanka
Asalanka was pushed into the longer format following his resounding success with the bat in limited-overs cricket but his short three-match career fetched him as few as 88 runs in six innings. This caused selectors to rest him from the longer format for now. He is also recovering from a knee injury.
His performance in limited-over formats has been impressive, even though early in his career as he maintained an average above 42 and 27 in ODI and T20 cricket. This means Roshen Silva, who last featured in a Test match for Sri Lanka in January 2019 has been included in a 23-man preliminary squad named for the forthcoming two-match Test series in Bangladesh.
The 33-year-old has played 12 Tests for Sri Lanka since his debut in 2017 against India and averages 35.10, scoring a century and five half-tons in his 23-innings career.
Another shocker was the exclusion of Test specialist Lahiru Thirimanne from the squad for the series in Bangladesh. Sources said that, although he was selected initially, selectors decided to drop him after he travelled overseas to be with his family without prior approval. He has been asked to play domestic cricket in order to earn a recall to the national side. Thirimanne is a veteran of 44 Tests but his recent form has been a cause for concern. He scored 25 runs in his last four innings against India.
Uncapped Kamil Mishara has been brought in, in place of Thirimanne. Mishara, 20, is a top order batter who has worn Sri Lankan colours in T20 format but his chances of making the final 18 remains doubtful. He has also been included in the emerging team for England and is most likely to fly to the UK on May 1 with them. The selectors have also named top-order batter Oshada Fernando after dropping him from the Indian series in March.
Lahiru Thirimanne
Meanwhile, off-spinner Lakshitha Rasanjana Manasinghe and leg-spinner Suminda Lakshan have been drafted into the initial squad which includes three frontline spinners in Praveen Jayawickrema, Lasith Embuldeniya, Jeffery Vandersay. They are also in the emerging team. With Suranga Lakmal retired and Dushmantha Chameera is rested from longer format until the World Cup, Sri Lanka’s pace attack looks weak. Chamika Karunaratne, Kasun Rajitha, Vishwa Fernando, Asitha Fernando, Dilshan Madushanka, Shiran Fernando and Mohamed Shiraz have been included in the squad.
The national team is expected to resume training on Wednesday at the R Premadasa Stadium with newly appointed Head Coach Chris Silverwood. The Englishman, who was confirmed as Sri Lanka Head Coach, a few days ago is expected to arrive here tomorrow to take up the position. He will conduct a 10-day residential training camp before taking the team to Bangladesh on May 8, his first international series with the Lankans.
Sri Lanka will resume training without its skipper Dimuth Karunaratne. He will leave for England this week to join Yorkshire County. He was to go on April 10 but there was a visa delay. If he gets clearance on Monday, he will leave the same night or the next day morning for Yorkshire’s game against Northamptonshire starting April 21. Karunaratne will feature in three games this season and join the national team in Bangladesh before the opening Test on May 15.
The first Test will be played in Chattogram while the second Test scheduled to start on May 23 in Dhaka.
Preliminary 23-member Test Squad: Dimuth Karunaratne (C), Kamil Mishara, Pathum Nissanka, Oshada Fernando, Aneglo Mathews, Kusal Mendis (wk), Dananjaya de Silva, Roshen Silva, Niroshan Dickwella (wk), Dinesh Chandimal (wk), Ramesh Mendis, Chamika Karunaratne, Kasun Rajitha, Vishwa Fernando, Asitha Fernando, Dilshan Madushanka, Shiran Fernando, Mohamed Shiraz, Praveen Jayawickrema, Lasith Embuldeniya, Jeffery Vandersay, Lakshitha Rasanjana Manasinghe, Suminda Lakshan
Emerging Team Tour of England- 32-member Preliminary Squad: Kamil Mishara (wk), Lasith Croospulle, Nishan Madushka, Johanne de Zilva, Kamindu Mendis, Nipun Dananjaya, Nuwanidu Fernando, Avishka Perera, M. de Silva, Ashen Bandara, Avishka Tharindu, Dinuka Dilshan, Dunith Wellalage, Dananjaya Lakshan, Kavishka Anjula, Santhush Gunathilake, Movin Subasinghe, Kalana Perera, Amshi de Silva, Nipun Malinga, Udith Madushan, Dilshan Madushanka, Yasiru Rodrigo, Kavindu Dilahara, Nipun Ransika, Kavindu Pathirathne, Dilum Sudeera, Ashian Daniel, Lakshitha Rasanjana Manasinghe, Kaumal Nanayakkara, Suminda Lakshan, T. Vithushan