Sri Lanka announces 18-member squad for the Bangladesh series

Sri Lanka has announced an 18-member squad for the upcoming first Test against Bangladesh at Galle which will mark the beginning of their campaign in the 2025–2027 ICC World Test Championship (WTC) cycle.

Dhananjaya de Silva will lead the side, which features several new faces aimed to make their Test debuts. Pasindu Sooriyabandara, Pavan Rathnayake, and Isitha Wijesundara have been included in the squad and are expected to earn their maiden Test caps.

Lahiru Udara and Sonal Dinusha, who made their Test debuts during the recent series against Australia also retain their spots in the team. The fast bowler Lahiru Kumara has been named in the squad but will miss the first Test due to injury.

Shanto to continue as Bangladesh captain for another year

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Shanto to continue as Bangladesh captain for another year

The veteran all-rounder Angelo Mathews is set to retire from Test cricket following this match which will be an emotional moment for Sri Lankan cricket. Mathews made his Test debut at Galle in 2009 and will bring the curtain down on his red-ball career at the same venue. His retirement follows that of Dimuth Karunaratne, who played his final Test at Galle earlier this year in February during the second Test against Australia.

“The past 17 years of playing cricket for Sri Lanka has been my highest honour and pride. Nothing can match that feeling of patriotism and servitude when one dons the National Jersey,” said Mathews on his retirement.

Bangladesh will be led by Najmul Hossain Shanto in the new WTC cycle. The two-match Test series begins with the first Test in Galle on June 17, followed by the second Test in Colombo starting on June 25.

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 (Captain), Shadman Islam, Anamul Haque Bijoy, Mominul Haque Showrab, Mushfiqur Rahim, Litton Kumer Das, Mahidul Islam Bhuiyan, Jaker Ali Anik, Mehidy Hasan Miraz (Vice-Captain), Taijul Islam, Nayeem Hasan, Hasan Murad, Ebadot Hossain Chowdhury, Hasan Mahmud, Nahid Rana, Syed Khaled Ahmed