Colombo (Kashmir English): Sri Lanka opener Pathum Nissanka has been ruled out of the upcoming two-match Test series against hosts Pakistan, as he continues to recover from a left hamstring injury.
Lahiru Udara would replace the injured opener for two-match series as Tests have been scheduled in Rawalpindi and Lahore.
The Sri Lanka Cricket Selection Committee has named Lahiru Udara as Nissanka’s replacement for the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) fixtures. The 15-member Sri Lankan squad is set to begin its preparations in Islamabad.
Nissanka sustained the injury during national team’s recent tour of England in September. The injury also forced him to miss the T20I series against Pakistan and subsequently he also missed the ODI tri-series featuring hosts and England.
Nissanka was included in Sri Lanka’s original Test squad as a conditional selection, with his participation dependent on medical clearance.
However, Sri Lanka Cricket confirmed that he had not fully recovered to feature in the Pakistan Test series starting November 9.
Lahiru Udara is already in Pakistan with Sri Lanka’s ODI squad. He is expected to join the Test players ahead of the series.
Udara has represented his nation in five Test matches and seven Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is), including the recently concluded T20I series against Pakistan.
He also featured in Sri Lanka’s two most recent Test assignments against West Indies and India.
During the Test series against West Indies in Antigua, Udara scored 188 runs in an innings, highlighting his potential as a batting option for the upcoming Tests.
Udara has yet to make his One-Day International (ODI) debut, however, his domestic List A record remains impressive.
He has scored 3,017 runs in 102 matches at an average of 32.09, including three centuries and 21 half-centuries.
Pakistan vs Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka will begin preparations with a three-day warm-up match at Islamabad Club from November 4 to 6 before the two-Test series gets underway.
The first Test will be played at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium from November 9 to 13. The teams will then travel to Lahore for the second Test at Gaddafi Stadium, scheduled for November 17 to 21.
Tests schedule
November 4–6: Three-day warm-up match, Islamabad Club
November 9–13: First Test, Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi
November 17–21: Second Test, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
Updated Sri Lanka Test squad
Following Nissanka’s withdrawal, Sri Lanka’s updated squad for the Pakistan Test series comprises: Kusal Mendis (captain), Anjala Bandara, Dinesh Chandimal, Dhananjaya de Silva, Sonal Dinusha, Asitha Fernando, Prabath Jayasuriya, Lahiru Kumara, Dilshan Madushanka, Eshan Malinga, Kamindu Mendis, Lahiru Udara, Keshara Nuwantha, Milan Rathnayaka and Pasindu Sooriyabandara.
