Sri Lanka name 18-member squad for Test series against Pakistan  

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) on Thursday (July 14) announced the 18-member Test squad for the upcoming home Test series against Pakistan.

Sri Lanka Cricket confirmed the news by releasing a statement on the 18-member squad announced for the two-match Test series against Pakistan. 

"Sri Lanka Cricket Selection Committee selected the following 18-member squad to take part in the upcoming test series against Pakistan," stated the SLC release.

The hosts have made three changes in the squad from the last series against Australia, which was levelled at 1-1. 

Spinners Prabath Jayasuriya, Maheesh Theekshana, and Dunith Wellalage are in the squad.

Jayasuriya was not picked in the main squad for the Australia Test series. However, he was added to the squad as a replacement and didn't disappoint. He had a memorable Test debut against Australia, bagging 12 wickets in the second Test match to help his team register a record-breaking win by an innings and 39 runs. 

Similarly, Maheesh Theekshana and Dunith Wellalage were not part of the Test squad for Sri Lanka's last home series but have been entrusted by the selectors for the Pakistan series. Theekshana made his Test debut in the last Test against the Aussies and scalped 3 wickets in the game. 

Notably, Sri Lanka have dropped their two first-choice spinners - Lasith Embuldeniya and Praveen Jayawickrama and all-rounder Chamika Karunaratne.

Jeffrey Vandersay, Asitha Fernando, and Dhananjaya de Silva have recovered from COVID-19 and are thus included in the squad after they missed out on playing the second Test against Australia.

No changes have been made in the batting group. 

The first test match of the series will commence on July 16 at the Galle International Cricket Stadium.

Sri Lanka Test squad: Dimuth Karunaratne (Captain), Pathum Nissanka, Oshada Fernando, Angelo Mathews, Kusal Mendis, Dhananjaya de Silva, Kamindu Mendis, Niroshan Dickwella (Wicket-keeper), Dinesh Chandimal (Wicket-keeper), Ramesh Mendis, Maheesh Theekshana, Kasun Rajitha, Vishwa Fernando, Asitha Fernando, Dilshan Madushanka, Prabath Jayasuriya, Dunith Wellalage, Jeffrey Vandersay.