NISHAN Madushka, the opening batter, has been left out from the Sri Lanka squad for the two-Test series against New Zealand, with Oshada Fernando returning to the team.
Nisala Tharaka and Kasun Rajitha, who were also part of the Sri Lanka squad during the three-Test tour of England, are the other exclusions from the 16-member team to take on New Zealand.
Fernando recently played for Sri Lanka A in the first unofficial Test against South Africa A, scoring 122 and 80 to play a key role in the visiting team’s six-wicket victory in Kimberley.
Madushka, on the other hand, struggled in the England tour with scores of 4, 0, 7 and 13 in the first two Tests before being left out for the third. Pathum Nissanka, who replaced him, came up with knocks of 64 and 127* to star in Sri Lanka’s win at The Oval.
The first Test against New Zealand begins on September 18 and the second match will be played from September 26. Both games, which are part of the World Test Championship, will be played in Galle.
Sri Lanka Test squad: Dhananjaya de Silva (c), Dimuth Karunaratne, Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal, Kamindu Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Oshada Fernando, Asitha Fernando, Vishwa Fernando, Lahiru Kumara, Prabath Jayasuriya, Ramesh Mendis, Jeffrey Vandersay, Milan Rathnayake. (Cricbuzz)