Sri Lanka Trending English News - Latest international news headlines, pictures, and video

Kaushal Silva axed

Sri Lanka’s selectors have dropped Kaushal Silva after a string of poor scores as the opener in Test cricket when they announced a 15-member squad for the two-match Test series against Bangladesh that gets underway on the 7th of March.

Silva failed to make a half-century in six innings during Sri Lanka’s tour to South Africa. His form in domestic cricket too has been patchy since the tour as he has managed just one fifty in seven innings for SSC.

Wicketkeeper batsman Kusal Janith Perera and fast bowler Dushmantha Chameera are the other players to be axed from the tour party to South Africa. Captain Angelo Mathews is out due to injury.

All-rounder Asela Gunaratne was recalled to the squad after his prolific form in ODI cricket along with Niroshan Dickwella. Left-arm spinner Malinda Pushpakumara, who was in great form for Sri Lanka ‘A’ during the recent series against England ‘A’, has been named in the squad along with left-arm wrist-spinner Lakshan Sandakan.

Opener Dimuth Karunaratne too had struggled in South Africa, but his match-winning double-hundred against England ‘A’ earlier this week has helped him to retain his place.

Sri Lanka Squad:

Rangana Herath (Captain), Dinesh Chandimal (Wicketkeeper), Dimuth Karunaratne, Niroshan Dickwella, Upul Tharanga, Dhananjaya de Silva, Kusal Mendis, Asela Gunaratne, Suranga Lakmal, Lahiru Kumara, Nuwan Pradeep, Vikum Sanjaya, Dilruwan Perera, Lakshan Sandakan and Malinda Pushpakumara.