Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has announced an 18-member squad for the first Test match against Bangladesh, which is scheduled to start from June 17. Sri Lanka will face Bangladesh for a two-test match series, which will mark the beginning of Sri Lanka’s World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-27 campaign. Led by skipper Dhananjaya de Silva, the squad features a host of new names.
Former Sri Lanka skipper Angelo Mathews will represent his team in whites for the last time in the first Test. The 37-year-old had started his Test career at Galle International Stadium in 2009 and is set to hang up his boots at the same venue.
Pasindu Sooriyabandara, Pavan Rathnayake and Isitha Wijesundara are the uncapped players named in the squad who could make their Test debut for Sri Lanka.
Meanwhile, Lahiru Udara and Sonal Dinusha, who made their debuts in Sri Lanka’s previous Test series, against Australia, have retained their spots.
ALSO READ: Will captaincy impact Shubman Gill's batting performance? Cheteshwar Pujara answers, says 'It requires a different kind of concentration...'
Experienced seamer Lahiru Kumara was selected but will miss the first Test due to injury. Bangladesh announced their squad earlier this month. With Najmul Hossain Shanto set to continue leading them into a new WTC cycle.
Sri Lanka squad: Dhananjaya de Silva (c), 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.
Bangladesh squad: Najmul Hossain Shanto (c), Mehidy Hasan Miraz (vc), Shadman Islam, Anamul Haque, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Litton Das, Mahidul Islam Ankon, Jaker Ali, Taijul Islam, Nayeem Hasan, Hasan Murad, Ebadot Hossain, Hasan Mahmud, Nahid Rana, Khaled Ahmed
Sri Lanka fixtures against Bangladesh:
First Test: Galle, June 17
Second Test: Colombo, June 25