Dhananjaya de Silva named vice-captain in Sri Lanka Test squad

Dhananjaya de Silva

Lakshitha Manasinghe

Praveen Jayawickrama

Pathum Nissanka

• Nissanka, Jayawickrama recalled, two uncapped players

Sri Lanka named middle-order batsman Dhananjaya de Silva as vice-captain to Dimuth Karunaratne, recalled spinner Praveen Jayawickrama and top order batsman Pathum Nissanka and picked two players uncapped in Test cricket fast bowler Dilshan Madushanka and off-spinner Lakshitha Manasinghe in naming a 16-man squad for the first cricket Test against Pakistan starting at the Galle International Cricket Stadium on Sunday.

Jayawickrama and Nissanka return to the side after last playing in 2022, while Madushanka who has played white ball cricket has come in as replacement for fast bowler Asitha Fernando who is down with the dengue virus. Manasinghe gets recognition for his consistent bowling in domestic cricket as well as against touring sides especially South Africa A and Pakistan in the two-day warm-up game played at Hambantota.

De Silva is the heir apparent to succeed Karunaratne as Test captain when the experienced opener steps down. Karunaratne had wanted to quit the captaincy after the two-Test series against Ireland in April, but the selectors had wanted him to continue for the Pakistan series as well.  (ST)  

Sri Lanka Test Squad

Dimuth Karunaratne (Captain), Nishan Madushka, Kusal Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal, Dhananjaya de Silva (Vice-Captain), Pathum Nissanka, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Kamindu Mendis, Ramesh Mendis, Prabath Jayasuriya, Praveen Jayawickrama, Kasun Rajitha, Dilshan Madushanka, Vishwa Fernando, Laksitha Manasinghe.