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Friday, 12 June 2015 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Colombo (Reuters): Left-handed batsman Jehan Mubarak’s nearly eight-year wait for a test recall finally ended with Sri Lanka naming him in their squad for the three-match series against Pakistan starting on Wednesday.
The 34-year-old, who played the last of his 10 tests at home in December 2007 against England, was rewarded for his rich domestic form, having scored over 1000-plus runs in the last two seasons.
The Washington, DC-born former national swimming champion also impressed Jonty Rhodes in a recent training camp arranged by his board with the South African fielding great saying Mubarak’s agility could be an asset for the test side.
Left-handed batsman Kusal Perera and fast bowler Dushmantha Chameera will be hoping to make their test debut, while paceman Suranga Lakmal was also named in the 16-member squad despite still recovering from a groin injury.
Galle hosts the first test, followed by matches in Colombo and Pallekele before the teams lock horns in a limited-overs series featuring five one-day and two Twenty20 Internationals.
Squad: Angelo Mathews (captain), Lahiru Thirimanne, Kaushal Silva, Dimuth Karunaratne, Kumar Sangakkara, Dinesh Chandimal, Kithruwan Vithanage, Jehan Mubarak, Kusal Perera, Rangana Herath, Dilruwan Perera, Tharindu Kaushal, Nuwan Pradeep, Dammika Prasad, Dushmantha Chameera, Suranga Lakmal (subject to fitness).
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Ahmed Shehzad struck 10 fours and a six in his 82 - AFP
: Spin was the Pakistanis undoing, as they were bowled out for 247 on day one of the three-day warm up against the Sri Lanka Board President’s XI at Colts Cricket Ground in Colombo. Only Ahmed Shehzad and Younis Khan crossed fifty, as the visitors lost seven wickets to spin - five of them to legspinner Jeffrey Vandersay. The Board XI went to stumps at 44 for 1, after Junaid Khan had trapped Dimuth Karunaratne in front second ball.
Mohammad Hafeez was lbw to right-arm seamer Nisala Tharaka in a rain-affected first session, before Azhar Ali was caught off Milinda Siriwardene’s left-arm spin to leave Pakistan at 39 for 2. Shehzad and Younis then set to work on the only substantial partnership of the innings, hitting 113 in each other’s company, for the third wicket.
Younis was the more aggressive batsman, hitting three sixes and five fours to progress to 64 from 78 balls, before falling to Siriwardene himself. Vandersay then laid waste to the middle order, first having Shehzad caught for 82, before dismissing Misbah-ul-Haq soon after. Asad Shafiq was stumped off Vandersay for 27, and with Sarfraz Ahmed also having been run out, the tail provided little resistance, giving up the last four wickets for 15 runs. Vandersay finished with 5 for 73.
Upul Tharanga remained unbeaten on 29 at stumps, with Kaushal Silva for company.
