Uncapped Wikum Sanjaya earns a place in the Sri Lanka squad for South Africa tour

Uncapped fast bowler Wikum Sanjaya has got his reward for some of his recent domestic performance after the SLC included his name in the 15-man Sri Lanka Squad which will tour South Africa starting later this month for the three-match Test series. The 24-year-old medium pacer, who hails from Colombo, recently grabbed headlines after recording his best bowling figures playing for Burgher Recreation Club against Army SC last weekend. He snapped six for 73 in the first innings.

In all, after having made his first-class debut in 2012, he has featured in 17 First Class matches and has taken 38 wickets so far. The newbie will now join the five-man seam attack featuring Dushmantha Chameera, Suranga Lakmal Nuwan Pradeep, and Lahiru Kumara.

The squad also receives a boost as captain Angelo Mathews, vice-captain Dinesh Chandimal fast bowler and Dushmantha Chameera return to the side after injury lay-offs. Angelo Mathews and Chandimal declared their fitness during SLC’s Dialog Cricketer of the Year award ceremony held in Colombo on Wednesday night. Both Mathews and Chandimal missed Sri Lanka’s recent tour of Zimbabwe.

Mathews was recovering from multiple leg injuries including a torn calf, while Chandimal had undergone surgery on his right hand after suffering “multiple dislocations around the thumb area” while playing a domestic match. Fast bowler Dushmantha Chameera has also recovered fully form the stress fracture he induced during the England few month back.

Apart from these inclusions, the selectors also decided to drop Asela Gunaratne, Niroshan Dickwella, Lakshan Sandakan, Kasun Madushanka and Lahiru Gamage for the series which will start with the Boxing Day Test at Port Elizabeth.

The Sri Lanka probable squad: Angelo Mathews (Captain), Dinesh Chandimal, Upul Tharanga, Dimuth Karunaratne, Kaushal Silva, Kusal Janith Perera, Kusal Mendis, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dilruwan Perera, Dushmantha Chameera, Nuwan Pradeep, Lahiru Kumara, Suranga Lakmal and Wikum Sanjaya.