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Vishwa Fernando and Nuwanidu Fernando
By Sa’adi Thawfeeq
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| Himesh Ramanayake |
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| Duvindu Tillakaratne
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Five Test cricketers, two brothers and two sons of former Test cricketers, figure in the 22-member Sri Lanka ‘A’ squad picked to meet Pakistan ‘A’ in a two-match four-day unofficial test series and three-match unofficial ODI series in Kandy and in Dambulla.
The series starts with the two unofficial tests in Kandy from 28 October followed by the three one-day games in Dambulla from 10 November. Pakistan ‘A’ is due to arrive on 21 November.
Swashbuckling top order batsman Sadeera Samarawickrama who has been chosen to lead the team is one of five Test players in the side. The others are one drop batsman Oshada Fernando, fast bowlers Vishwa Fernando and Asitha Fernando and left-arm spinner Lasith Embuldeniya.
Embuldeniya in fact is making a comeback to competitive cricket after injuring his left thigh while fielding during the second Test against West Indies in Antigua in April, an injury which ruled him out for eight weeks. Samarawickrama, Oshada Fernando and Asitha Fernando have been in the mix playing white ball cricket while Vishwa Fernando has figured in the longer format Test cricket.
The squad with an average age of 24 years comprises several young players who have performed well in domestic cricket which includes middle order bat Nuwanidu Fernando, the younger brother of Vishwa Fernando, fast bowler Himesh Ramanayake, son of former Sri Lanka fast bowler Champaka Ramanayake, currently Bangladesh’s High Performance fast bowling coach, and slow left-arm spinner Duvindu Tillakaratne, son of former Sri Lanka captain Hashan Tillakaratne, presently head coach of the Sri Lanka Women’s team.
Sri Lanka Cricket has finalised the itinerary for the tour with the two unofficial tests to be played at the Pallekele International Stadium and the three unofficial ODIs at Dambulla International Stadium.
Sri Lanka ‘A’ squad (subject to Sports Ministry confirmation): Sadeera Samarawickrama (Tamil Union, Captain), Nishan Madushka (Ragama CC), Lahiru Udara (NCC), Lasith Croospulle (Chilaw Marians CC), Kamil Mishara (NCC), Oshada Fernando (Chilaw Marians CC), Nuwanidu Fernando (SSC), Nipun Dananjaya (SSC), Sahan Arachchige (NCC), Sammu Ashan (SSC), Lasith Abeyratne (CCC), Dananjaya Lakshan (Colts, subject to fitness), Kalana Perera (SSC), Shiran Fernando (Tamil Union), Mohamed Shiraz (BRC, subject to fitness), Asitha Fernando (Chilaw Marians CC), Himesh Ramanayake (SSC), Vishwa Fernando (CCC), Suminda Lakshan (SL Army SC), Lasith Embuldeniya (NCC), Ashian Daniel (NCC), and Duvindu Tillakaratne (BRC).
Pakistan ‘A’ tour itinerary
