Herath to lead Sri Lanka in Bangladesh Tests

Rangana Herath will skipper Sri Lanka against Bangladesh in next week`s two-Test home series, Sri Lanka Cricket announced on Tuesday.

Herath will stand in for Angelo Mathews, who misses out due to a hamstring injury. In addition, Malinda Pushpakumara, the prolific domestic left-arm spinner, joins Herath in the squad in what were the only squad details revealed.

“He (Herath) has taken on the challenge of leading the team through the two Test series against the Bangladeshi team,” the cricket board said in a statement.

“Slow left-arm spinner Malinda Pushpakumara has been included in the Test squad,” the release added. “Pushpakumara first represented the Sri Lanka A team in 2012 when he faced South Africa and Zimbabwe during a triangular tournament and made an appearance for the Sri Lanka A team in 2015 against Pakistan.”

It was, however, his outing for Sri Lanka A versus England Lions earlier in the week of 13 for 205 that earned him his maiden call-up to the national squad. The left-armer has 29 first-class wickets at 26.17 for Sri Lanka A, while amassing 558 first-class wickets at an average of 19.85.

Herath had earlier filled in during Sri Lanka`s tour of Zimbabwe in November - a series that the visitors took 2-0. Earlier, Sri Lanka had hosted Australia and blanked them 3-0 in August. Bangladesh, on the other hand, have won only three games since gaining Test status 17 years ago. Their latest achievement though, was their historic win at home over England.

The last time the two sides contested a two-match Test series in Sri Lanka was in 2014, which the hosts took 1-0 after bagging the first one by 248 runs and drawing the other.

The first Test begins in Galle on March 7 while the second will be played in Colombo from March 15.

Squad: Rangana Herath (Captain), Dimuth Karunaratne, Niroshan Dickwella, Upul Tharanga, Dhananjaya de Silva, Kusal Mendis, Asela Gunaratne, Dinesh Chandimal, Suranga Lakmal, Lahiru Kumara, Nuwan Pradeep, Vikum Sanjaya Bandara, Dilruwan Perera, Lakshan Sandakan, Malinda Pushpakumara.

Source: Cricbuzz