Published: Aug 10, 2017, 05:44 PM (IST)
Edited: Aug 10, 2017, 05:44 PM (IST)
With Sri Lanka on the verge of a possible whitewash at the hands of India in the ongoing three-Test series, the team management have recalled pace duo of Dushmantha Chameera and Lahiru Gamage in the 15-man squad. They have released Danushka Gunathilaka, and will be without Rangana Herath, Sri Lanka’s second highest wicket-taker, due to mild back injury. With hosts trailing 0-2 and on the back of poor performances, they have a tall task to match the rampant visitors in order to prevent a 0-3 scoreline at Pallekele.
Chameera has been plagued with injuries in recent times. He was a part of the Test side which toured England in 2016. However, he returned home after the first Test due to injury. He made a comeback during Sri Lanka’s 0-3 drubbing against South Africa, but remained ineffective with a significant drop in pace. He was overlooked for the Test series against Bangladesh. Nonetheless, he was part of the extended squad which faced Zimbabwe recently. With Nuwan Pradeep ruled out due to hamstring injury post the second Test, Chameera gets a look-in.
On the other hand, Gamage is uncapped in Tests but made his ODI debut against India in 2014. He has, so far, played 5 ODIs. It will be interesting to see if the two make it to the playing XI in the final encounter starting from August 12.
Sri Lanka squad: Dinesh Chandimal (c), Angelo Mathews, Upul Tharanga, Dimuth Karunaratne, Niroshan Dickwella (wk), Kusal Mendis, Dhananjaya de Silva, Lahiru Thirimanna, Lahiru Kumara, Vishwa Fernando, Dushmantha Chameera, Lahiru Gamage, Dilruwan Perera, Malinda Pushpakumara and Lakshan Sandakkan.
