Milinda and Kusal in Sri Lanka Test Squad

The national selectors yesterday named two uncapped players Milinda Siriwardena and Kusal Mendis in a 15-man squad for the two-Test series against the touring West Indies team which begins on October 14 at the Galle International Stadium.

Batting all-rounder Siriwardena has been rewarded for making an encouraging start to his ODI career while Kusal Mendis had the honour of captaining the Sri Lanka U19 team during last year’s Youth World Cup.

Both Siriwardena and Mendis are currently playing in the three-day practice match against the West Indies which commenced at the SSC ground in Maitland Place yesterday.

However the national selectors have left out two veterans Upul Tharanga and Jehan Mubarak who made their appearances in the recent series’ against Pakistan and India respectively.

The Sri Lanka squad: Angelo Mathews (captain), -Lahiru Thirimanne (vice captain), Kaushal Silva, Dimuth Karunaratne, Dinesh Chandimal, Kusal Perera, Milinda Siriwardene, Kusal Mendis, Rangana Herath, Dilruwan Perera, Tharindu Kaushal, Dhammika Prasad, Nuwan Pradeep, Suranga Lakmal, Dushmantha Chameera. (CD)