Sri Lanka name 15-man squad for second Test against Pakistan – Cricket News Update
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755, starting on June 30, at the Sinhalese Sports Club, Colombo.
Fast bowler Dilhara Fernando, who missed the opening Test at Galle due to an injury, has been recalled into the side; however, the chairman of SLC selectors, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Ashantha-Lakdasa-Francis-de-Mel-c46253, is not sure whether the seamer will make the starting XI
on Saturday or not.
Fernando, the 32-year-old right-arm medium pace bowler, who has not played for Sri Lanka Since January this year, has been called up to replace http://www.senore.com/Cricket/UWMBCA-Welegedara-c2735 – who is ruled out of the entire Test series due to a torn shoulder
muscle.
"Fernando has recovered from a shoulder injury and we have included him in the 15, but I am not sure whether he will play," chairman of selectors Ashantha de Mel said on Wednesday. "The team management will take a call on who should
support Nuwan Kulasekara,” he added further.
The Sri Lankan selectors were forced to include the partially-fit Fernando as they were short of options due to injuries to several back-up pace bowlers.
"Lakmal has a serious ankle injury and he is out for at least six months, and Eranga is having a nerve problem in his back," De Mel revealed. “These bowlers cannot play an entire Test series without breaking down or getting injured,"
he added further.
Dhammika Prasad, another seam bowling option for the Islanders, is currently touring http://www.senore.com/Cricket/South-Africa-c757 with the A team to gain complete fitness by bowling maximum overs in the four-day unofficial Test matches against their South African
counterparts.
The SLC chief selector also had a word of praise for Nuwan Pradeep – who had replaced Welegedara for the Galle Test last week – but was also unsure whether his injury prone body would allow him to bear the heat of back-to-back Tests.
“If Pradeep is rested his place is likely to go to either Thisara Perera or Fernando," said De Mel.
Sri Lanka hold a 1-0 lead in the three-match series and will be looking to seal the series by winning the second Test at Colombo.
Sri Lanka Squad: http://www.senore.com/Cricket/CRD-Fernando-c1292,
Suraj Randiv, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/KMDN-Kulasekara-c1802, Nuwan Pradeep, Thisara Perera, Jeevan Mendis
Tags: