The young wicket-keeper batter Anjala Bandara and fast bowler Eshan Malinga have  earned their maiden Test call-up to the team for the forthcoming Pakistan two-match Test series which will commence from November 9 in Rawalpindi. The Test series is a part of the ICC World Test Championship 2025-2027 cycle. The National Cricket Selection Committee has announced a 15-member Sri Lanka squad for the upcoming two-match Test series against Pakistan with Kusal Mendis set to lead the side for the first time in the longest format.The 22-year-old left hand batter and wicket keeper Anjala Bandara was among the runs in domestic cricket tournament playing for CCC.  He was came to the limelight in the Sri Lanka Emerging team after scoring three centuries in-a-row against West Indies Academy team in their 4-day series in Hambantota.

He has played 31 First Class matches and has accumulated 2239 runs with an average of  65.85. He has scored 7 centuries and 7 fifties in his First Class career. During the last home Test series against India, Anjala’s name also came to the fore but selectors finally considered Niroshan Dickwella. Dickwella got chance after three years to play the Indian series but has been dropped from the Test squad this time. Anjala Bandara is tipped to make the playing XI following Kusal Mendis’ promotion to captaincy. The longtime Test keeper Kusal Mendis is now likely to play solely as a specialist batter.

Meanwhile 25-year-old right arm paceman Eshan Malinga has been a regular in the shorter formats and this is his first Test call-up, having played 19 First Class matches and claiming 44 wickets at an average of 31.15. He already played 10 ODIs and 16 T-20s heading to play debut Test in this Pakistan series. Especially Malinga has the ability to bowl around 140 kmph speed which is the main reason for him to selected to the squad. Especially on the Pakistan wickets this type of bowlers can make better performances.Pathum Nissanka, the experienced opener is named for the 15-member Test squad but Nissanka’s participation remains subject to medical clearance.However openers Lahiru Udara and Kamil Mishara both who have played the second Test against India in Colombo are not in the final squad for Pakistan. Sahan Arachchige who has played India Test at SSC is also dropped from this Test squad.

The experienced Dinesh Chandimal has returned after being subbed out of the first Test in Galle. However the unfit Nissanka’s inclusion once again will raise the question for the Selectors to name the openers for the Test. Kusal Mendis the new skipper, Pasindu Sooriyabandara and Dinesh Chandimal are the three top order batters next in line for the openers’ slots. Sooriyabandara who played really well at SSC against India retained his place ahead of Lahiru Udara who is the surprised omission of this Test squad.

The 32-year-old Udara, has scored a career best 188 against the West Indies and has represented Sri Lanka in five Tests, scoring 313 runs at an average of 34.77 including one century. But he couldn’t  make a good innings during the last Indian Test series in four  innings and now he is overlooked for this Test series. He has also made a good knock of 91 in the first Pakistan T-20. Nishan Madushka has also played last India first Test but was dropped from the second SSC Test due to failure. He was replaced by Kamil Mishara and all three openers Udara, Madushka and Mishara have now  lost their places due to poor performances.

Meanwhile Dhananjaya de Silva who resigned from the Test captaincy last week is among the Test squad as an ordinary player.  Kamindu Mendis and Sonal Dinusha retained their places hoping to strengthen the middle order with Dhananjaya de Silva. Two key spinners Prabath Jayasuriya (leg spinner) and Kesara Nuwantha  (off spinner) are among the squad. Nuwantha who played his debut Test against India was highly praised by the coach Gary Kirsten. He has shown his batting ability as a low order batter in the Indian series. The young Sonal Dinusha is the most successful batter of the last Indian Test series and is expected to repeat his performance. He is also a useful leg spinner.

Milan Ratnayake, Dilshan Madushanka, Asitha Fernando and Lahiru Kumara are also among the squad as pacemen  while Eshan Malinga also joined the fray. Most probably three of them will get the chance to enter the playing eleven. Vihawa Fernando, the left arm paceman who was also in the recent Test squads has been dropped from this Test series and Eshan Malinga is the new addition to fast bowlers.

However before the two Pakistan Test matches, a four- day game is scheduled to play. It will help Lankan players to get adjusted to the conditions while making room for Selectors to select the final XI for the Test. The two-match Test series will commence on November 9 in Rawalpindi, with the second Test scheduled to be played in Lahore from November17 to 21.

Sri Lanka team is currently ranked seventh while Pakistan is at the bottom in ninth place in the ongoing World Test Championship cycle.

Sri Lanka’s squad for Pakistan Tests: Kusal Mendis (Capt ), Pathum Nissanka, Pasindu Sooriyabandara, Dinesh Chandimal, Kamindu Mendis, Sonal Dinusha, Dhananjaya de Silva, Anjala Bandara, Keshara Nuwantha, Prabath Jayasuriya, Milan Rathnayake, Lahiru Kumara, Asitha Fernando, Dilshan Madushanka, Eshan Malinga (Pathum Nissanka – subject to fitness clearance)