Sri Lanka Cricket Board Selectors announced a 16-member squad for the Test series against India, which will start from 12 August at Galle.
Sri Lanka will play three Test matches against India in the series, which is also going to be Kumar Sangakkara's farewell Test. Angelo Mathews will be leading the Sri Lankan side while Lahiru Thirimanne will be his deputy.
Kausal Silva, Dimuth Karunaratne, Kusal Perera and Dinesh Chandimal have retained their places in the Test squad. For the first two Tests, Sri Lanka will have the boost of Sangakkara and after that, he will be heading to play county cricket for Surrey as he had committed earlier.
The pace department will be handled by Dhammika Prasad, Nuwan Pradeep and Dushmantha Chameera. Chameera's availability will be depending on his fitness ahead of the first Test match against India at Galle.
The spin department will be taken care of by the veteran left-arm off-spinner Rangana Herath. Herath had a poor series against Pakistan recently and his knack of picking up wickets at regular intervals went missing in that series. It will be interesting to see whether he gets back his form against a fancy Indian side. Young spinner Tharindu Kaushal has also retained his spot.
Suranga Lakmal and batsman Kithuruwan Vithanage were left out of the squad. Lakmal has been suffering from a side strain.
Uncapped 23-year-old fast bowler Vishwa Fernando has been named in the Sri Lanka squad for the series against India. He had taken 98 wickets in his first career at an average of 31.0.
India are currently playing a three-day warm up game against the Sri Lanka Board President's XI at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.
Sri Lanka Test Squad:
Angelo Mathews (c), Lahiru Thirimanna, Kaushal Silva, Dimuth Karunaratne, Kumar Sangakkara, Dinesh Chandimal, Upul Tharanga, Jehan Mubarak, Rangana Herath, Kusal Perera, Dilruwan Perera, Tharindu Kaushal, Nuwan Pradeep, Dhammika Prasad, Vishwa Fernando, Dushmantha Chameera.
