'This will kill his confidence' - Angelo Mathews shocked by Sri Lanka's Test squad for Pakistan excluding Lahiru Udara

Sri Lanka Cricket announced a 15-member Test squad on October 13 for a two-match series in Pakistan, part of the ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 cycle. The first Test begins in Rawalpindi on November 9, with the second scheduled in Lahore from November 17 to 21. One name absent from the squad drew immediate attention: opener and wicketkeeper-batter Lahiru Udara Igalagamage.

Former Sri Lanka Test captain Angelo Mathews posted his reaction, expressing surprise at the selection decision. Mathews captained Sri Lanka's Test side from 2013 to 2017, leading the team to 13 wins in 34 matches, and finished his Test career with more than 8,000 runs. His post drew wide attention given his standing in Sri Lankan cricket.

"We always Talk about building confidence in players but shocked to see Lahiru udara being left out from the test squad after scoring 180 in West Indies and failing in just 2 test matches! This will kill his confidence and create doubts in other batters too," wrote Mathews on X.

Udara scored a career-best 188 off 248 balls against the West Indies in the 2nd Test on July 3, 2026, which was his maiden Test century. Across his five Tests to date, he has accumulated 313 runs at an average of 34.77. His omission comes just two Test appearances after that innings. In the second Test against India in August 2026 in Colombo, Udara scored 3 off 15 balls in the second innings, and the selectors have not included him for the Pakistan tour.

Sri Lanka's squad changes for the Pakistan series

Wicketkeeper-batter Niroshan Dickwella has also been left out of the squad. Among the notable inclusions, Dilshan Madushanka earns a recall to the Test side, while Eshan Malinga and Anjala Bandara receive their first Test call-ups. Pathum Nissanka returns after missing Sri Lanka's tour of India in August while recovering from a wrist injury, though his inclusion remains subject to fitness clearance.

The squad also marks a change in leadership. Kusal Mendis takes over the Test captaincy from Dhananjaya de Silva, who stepped down as skipper ahead of the Pakistan series. It will be Mendis's first time leading Sri Lanka in the Test format. In the current World Test Championship cycle, Sri Lanka occupy seventh place in the standings while Pakistan are ninth.

Sri Lanka's squad for the Pakistan Test series:

Kusal Mendis (captain), Anjala Bandara, Dinesh Chandimal, Dhananjaya De Silva, Sonal Dinusha, Asitha Fernando, Prabath Jayasuriya, Lahiru Kumara, Dilshan Madushanka, Eshan Malinga, Kamindu Mendis, Pathum Nissanka, Keshara Nuwantha, Milan Rathnayaka, Pasindu Sooriyabandara.