Fast bowler Chamika Karunaratne and left-arm spinner Lakshan Sandakan who joined the Sri Lanka Test Squad for the second Test as replacements will have their first training session on Wednesday at the Pallekele Stadium in Kandy.
The two players were grafted into the Test Squad following the injury to their key fast bowler Lahiru Kumara who broke down with a hamstring injury while fielding on the third day of the first Test against Bangladesh on Friday.
“Chamika (Karunaratne) and Lakshan (Sandakan) are currently in room quarantine in Kandy and they would join the rest of the squad in a couple of day’s time,” an official close to the Sri Lanka team told the Daily News yesterday.
“They were put in quarantine from last Friday soon after the National Selectors added them to the squad and both players are set to begin training after an antigen test,” the source added further.
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka Skipper Dimuth Karunaratne welcomed the addition of these two players to the 18-member squad after the opening Test against Bangladesh ended in a high-scoring draw at the Pallekele Stadium on Sunday.
“It is obvious that we wanted Chamika (Karunaratne) to replace the injured Lahiru Kumara but in the meantime we thought of strengthening the spin department as well,” he explained.
“The fast bowlers are not getting enough support under these hot and humid conditions so having an extra spinner in the squad is always a good option to have,” the Sri Lankan Captain elaborated.
Chamika Karunaratne of course has played just a solitary Test against Australia in 2019 but he has continued to impress in domestic cricket and was among the wickets during the recent SLC Major Club Limited Over Tournament.
Sri Lanka’s bowling attack was fully exposed by the Bangladesh top order during the first Test as the visitors rattled up 541 for seven – their second highest total against the islanders.
Sandakan’s presence in the squad could be mainly due to the lack of variation in Sri Lanka’s bowling attack in the first Test.
Leg-spinner Wanidu Hasaranga went wicketless for 111 runs from his 36 overs while off-spinner Dhananjaya de Silva conceded 130 runs for his solitary wicket in 30 overs.
Sandakan played his last Test against England in 2018 but his record at the Pallekele Stadium may have prompted the National Selectors to be included for the second Test.
The second Test will commence on April 29 at the same venue.
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