For the forthcoming first Test match against Bangladesh at Galle, which will kick off their campaign in the 2025–2027 ICC WTC cycle, Sri Lanka has announced an 18-man squad.
The team, which includes a number of fresh players hoping to make their Test debuts, will be captained by Dhananjaya de Silva. The squad has added Isitha Wijesundara, Pavan Rathnayake, and Pasindu Sooriyabandara, who are anticipated to receive their first Test caps.
Sonal Dinusha and Lahiru Udara, who made their Test debuts in the most recent series against Australia, are still included in the squad. Despite being included in the squad, Lahiru Kumara, a fast bowler, will be sidelined for the first Test because of an injury.
After this match, which will be a poignant occasion for Sri Lankan cricket, legendary all-rounder Angelo Mathews is scheduled to retire from Test cricket. The end of Mathews’ red-ball career will take place in Galle, where he made his Test debut in 2009. Dimuth Karunaratne, who played his farewell Test match at Galle earlier this year in February during the second Test against Australia, has also retired.
“My greatest honour and pride over the past 17 years has been playing cricket for Sri Lanka. On his retirement, Mathews remarked, “There is nothing that compares to the sense of patriotism and duty that comes with wearing the National Jersey.”
In the upcoming WTC cycle, Najmul Hossain Shanto will serve as Bangladesh’s leader. The opening Test in the two-match Test series will take place in Galle on June 17 and the second Test in Colombo will begin on June 25.
Sri Lankan team:
Pathum Nissanka, Oshada Fernando, Lahiru Udara, Dinesh Chandimal, Angelo Mathews, Kusal Mendis, Kamindu Mendis, Pasindu Sooriyabandara, Sonal Dinusha, Pavan Rathnayake, Prabath Jayasuriya, Tharindu Ratnayake, Akila Dananjaya, Milan Rathnayake, Asitha Fernando, Kasun Rajitha, Isitha Wijesundara, Dhananjaya de Silva (c).
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