In a significant shift of captaincy strategy for Sri Lanka’s cricket team post the 2023 ODI World Cup, all-rounder Dhananjaya de Silva is gearing up for his leadership debut in red-ball cricket. He takes the reins from Dimuth Karunaratne and will lead a 16-member squad in the solitary Test against Afghanistan, commencing on February 2 in Colombo.
The selected squad showcases experienced players such as Angelo Matthews, Dinesh Chandimal, and the former captain Dimuth Karunaratne. Kusal Mendis will serve as the deputy to Dhananjaya de Silva. Adding to the mix, three debutants – wicket-keeper batter Lahiru Udara, and pacers Chamika Gunasekara and Milan Rathnayake – mark their entry into the team.
Interestingly, despite expectations of subcontinent conditions, Sri Lanka has opted for a pace-heavy squad. Alongside the debutant seamers, Vishwa Fernando, Kasun Rajitha, and Asitha Fernando have also secured spots in the squad.
The spin department comprises Prabath Jayasuriya, Ramesh Mendis, and Kamindu Mendis, with Dhananjaya de Silva providing a part-time spin option.
This Test series against Afghanistan, being outside the World Test Championship (WTC), serves as a precursor to the white-ball leg of the tour, featuring three ODIs and three T20Is starting on February 9.
Afghanistan recently revealed their Test squad, featuring four uncapped players. Notably, star spinner Rashid Khan is absent as he continues recovery from surgery.
Sri Lanka faces a challenging task in the 2023-25 World Test Championship after a setback, losing their home series to Pakistan by a 0-2 margin in July 2023. The nation, recently released from the International Cricket Council (ICC) suspension, looks ahead to a crucial period in Test cricket.
Sri Lanka Squad for One-off Test against Afghanistan:
- Dhananjaya de Silva (c)
- Kusal Mendis (vc)
- Dimuth Karunaratne
- Nishan Madushka
- Angelo Mathews
- Dinesh Chandimal
- Sadeera Samarawickrama
- Ramesh Mendis
- Asitha Fernando
- Vishwa Fernando
- Kasun Rajitha
- Kamindu Mendis
- Prabath Jayasuriya
- Lahiru Udara
- Chamika Gunasekara
- Milan Rathnayake
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