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Lahiru, Chamika, Milan receive maiden call up for test series

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Afghanistan’s tour of Sri Lanka 2024

Sri Lanka has named their 16-member squad for the test match, including newcomers Lahiru Udara, Milan Ratanayake, and Chamika Gunasekara. Alongside these fresh faces, experienced players like Dimuth Karunaratne, Angelo Mathews, and Dinesh Chandimal will also be part of the squad.

The selection committee has focused on strengthening the batting lineup by including Nishan Madushka, Kamindu Mendis, Kusal Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama, and Dimuth Karunaratne. This will provide the team with more firepower.

In terms of the bowling attack, Asitha Fernando will lead the pace alongside Vishwa Fernando and Kasun Rajitha. Prabath Jayasuriya and Ramesh Mendis will handle the spin department as the leggie and off-spinner, respectively.

Notably, Lasith Embuldeniya and Akila Dhananjaya have been left out of the squad for this series.

This test series will also mark a new era for Sri Lanka under the captaincy of 32 year old Dananjaya de Silva.

On the other hand, Afghanistan officially announced their squad to face Sri Lanka on Monday (29).
They have included four uncapped players, including Noor Ali Zadran, Zia-ur-Rehman, Mohammad Ishaaq, and Naveed Zadran.

However, their star player Rashid Khan will miss the series due to his ongoing rehabilitation process after surgery.

Afghanistan’s last test match was against Bangladesh in June 2023, where they suffered a heavy defeat. They have excluded Karim Janat and Amir Hamza for the test against Sri Lanka but retained their strong batting lineup, including Hashmatullah Shahidi, Ibrahim Zadran, Abdul Malik, and Rahmat Shah.

This will be Afghanistan’s first test match against Sri Lanka, as they have only played seven tests since their debut in 2018. In addition to the test match, their tour will also include three ODIs and T20Is.

Sri Lanka Probable test cricket  Squad (subject to approval  by the sports Minister): Dhananjaya de Silva (capt), Kusal Mendis (V.capt), Dimuth Karunaratne, Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal, Sadeera Samarawickrema, Nishan Madushka, Kamindu Mendis, Lahiru Udara, Prabath Jayasuriya, Asitha Fernando, Kasun Rajitha, Ramesh Mendis, Vishwa Fernando, Chamika Gunasekara, Milan Ratnayake

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Matheesha Pathirana Cleared for IPL Return

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Sri Lanka’s rising pace sensation Matheesha Pathirana is set to make his return to competitive cricket, with a move to the Indian Premier League (IPL) expected in the coming days.

After a period on the sidelines due to injury concerns, the young fast bowler has successfully completed all required fitness tests, clearing the final hurdle in his recovery process. His return comes as welcome news for both fans and team management, who have been awaiting his comeback.

Sources indicate that Pathirana is now preparing to travel to India, where he is likely to link up with the Kolkata Knight Riders squad. His inclusion could provide a significant boost to the team’s bowling attack as the tournament moves into a crucial phase.

Known for his unique action and death-over effectiveness, Pathirana’s return adds depth and firepower, potentially strengthening Kolkata’s chances in the latter stages of the competition.

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Chamari Athapaththu Named to WCA Advisory Board

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Sri Lanka has earned a proud moment on the global cricketing stage as national women’s captain Chamari Athapaththu has been appointed to the Player Advisory Board of the World Cricketers’ Association (WCA).

The latest reshuffle of the board brings together some of the most influential voices in international cricket. Athapaththu joins a distinguished lineup that includes Pat Cummins, Jason Holder, Heather Knight, Aiden Markram, Scott Edwards, and Laura Wolvaardt.

She also joins newly inducted members such as Rashid Khan, Wayne Madsen, Daryl Mitchell, and Maddy Green. The new appointments come as former board members Tim Southee and Sophie Devine step down from their roles.

Speaking about her appointment, Athapaththu described the opportunity as both a personal honour and a milestone for Sri Lankan cricket as a whole. She emphasized that her inclusion reflects growing recognition for players from Asia on the global stage.

The experienced all-rounder expressed her eagerness to bring her international insights to the table, highlighting the importance of ensuring that players from all regions have a meaningful voice in shaping the future of the sport. She particularly stressed the need for stronger representation from Asian cricketing nations in global decision-making.

Athapaththu also reaffirmed her commitment to collaborating with fellow board members to enhance player welfare, support the development of the game, and contribute to a more balanced and inclusive global cricket structure.

According to the WCA, the refreshed Player Advisory Board comes at a crucial time for international cricket. The body aims to strengthen player representation and ensure that athletes play a central role in guiding the long-term direction and sustainability of the game.

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LSG Rope in George Linde After Hasaranga Injury Blow

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Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) have signed South African allrounder George Linde as a replacement for injured Sri Lanka spinner Wanindu Hasaranga in IPL 2026.

Hasaranga, bought for INR 2 crore, was ruled out after suffering a hamstring injury during Sri Lanka’s T20 World Cup opener in February and never joined the LSG squad. His absence left LSG short of spin options early in the season.

Linde joins the franchise at his base price of INR 1 crore. The 33-year-old left-arm spinner is set for his first IPL stint, but arrives with extensive global T20 experience, having featured in leagues such as SA20, The Hundred, PSL and Major League Cricket over the past year.

Across 250 T20 matches, Linde has taken 218 wickets at an economy of 7.42 and scored 2,746 runs at a strike rate of 136.68, adding depth as a bowling allrounder.

LSG, who began IPL 2026 with a loss to Delhi Capitals, have since bounced back with two narrow wins to climb to fifth place on the points table. The addition of Linde is expected to further strengthen their balance ahead of a key phase in the tournament.

LSG next face Gujarat Titans on Sunday in Lucknow, where Linde could be in line for his debut.

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