Karunaratne uncertain for 1st Test vs Pakistan
Sri Lanka’s Test captain, Dimuth Karunaratne, may miss the first Test against Pakistan due to a hamstring injury. Fitness tests in Colombo will determine his availability in the next 48 hours. If he is unfit, he won’t travel to Galle for the match starting on July 16.
In the event that Karunaratne is unable to play, vice-captain Dhananjaya de Silva will step in as the captain for the first Test against Pakistan. Additionally, Lahiru Kumara is expected to be absent from the match due to a side-strain injury.
According to a source close to the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), in the scenario where Dimuth Karunaratne is unavailable, the 31-year-old all-rounder Dhananjaya de Silva, who currently serves as the vice-captain, will assume the captaincy. This information was shared with the Sri Lanka Daily Mirror on Thursday morning.
The squad selection process is near completion, with the selectors almost finalizing the team. However, they are awaiting Karunaratne’s fitness reports before making the ultimate decision. The squad for the second Test, scheduled to take place in Colombo from July 24th to 28th, will be confirmed on the third day of the first Test.
As per the source, the selection panel has currently chosen the squad exclusively for the first Test. The composition of the team for the second Test, which is slated to be held in Colombo from July 24th to 28th, will be decided and finalized on the third day of the opening Test match. This approach allows the selectors to assess the performance and condition of players before making the necessary adjustments for the subsequent game.
This is published in logicalbaat, on 13, July 2023.
