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Experienced batsman Mahela Jayawardene and left-arm spinner Rangana Herath will return for Sri Lanka’s three-Test series against Pakistan in the UAE after skipping the ongoing one-day contests due to personal reasons. |
The duo were named in a 16-man squad yesterday along with three uncapped players.
Vishwa Fernando, a 22-year-old left-arm fast-medium bowler, has not represented his country in any format while off-spinners Sachitra Senanayake and Dilruwan Perera have appeared in ODIs and T20s for Sri Lanka.
Wicket-keeper Kaushal Silva, a consistent scorer in domestic cricket, finds a place in the Test squad as a replacement for Tillakaratne Dilshan, who retired from Test cricket earlier this year.
Fast bowler Shaminda Eranga too has been recalled to the Test side after being rested for the ODIs against New Zealand and Pakistan.
Jayawardene, 36, is one of 11 batsmen worldwide and only the second Sri Lankan alongside current teammate Kumar Sangakkara to score more than 10,000 runs in Test cricket. The stylish right-hander has made 10,806 runs in 138 Tests at an average of 49.56, with 31 centuries and 45 half-centuries.
The first Test starts in Abu Dhabi on December 31. The second will be played in Dubai from January 8 to 12 and the third in Sharjah from January 16 to 20.
Squad: Angelo Mathews (captain), Dinesh Chandimal, Dimuth Karunaratne, Kaushal Silva, Kumar Sangakkara, Lahiru Thirimanne, Mahela Jayawardene, Prasanna Jayawardene, Nuwan Kulasekara, Suranga Lakmal, Shaminda Eranga, Vishwa Fernando, Sachitra Senanayake, Nuwan Pradeep, Rangana Herath, Dilruwan Perera