Sri Lanka Test team is ready to take Challenge against Afghanistan in their one and only Test which scheduled to commence from February 2 at SSC grounds. Some players are engaged with NSL matches and from next Monday they are ready to start their Test match practices in Colombo.
Sri Lanka Test team is coming to this Test under new captaincy of Dhananjaya Silva after successful captaincy by Dimuth Karunaratne and new Selection Committee headed by Upul Tharanga has a big task to get ready Sri Lanka Test team to play this one off Test. Sri Lanka Test squad has not finalised yet but selectors are getting much needed effort to give best team for this Test. In fact Dhananjaya de Silva is ready to give his maiden Test leadership at SSC which is a lucky ground for Dhananjaya who hit fighting big innings several times.
Dhananjaya the all rounder normally come as middle order batter and a more effective off spinner who are capable of break important partnerships and this is good test time for all rounder de Silva who has played last T-20 game against Zimbabwe as a number three.
Meanwhile experienced players like Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal, Dimuth Karunaratne, Kusal Mendis and Sadeera Samarawickrama have big responsibility but selectors have not picked their final squad and still they are looking on ongoing National Super League (NSL) four day matches to consider final selections.
Nishan Madushka, Lahiru Udara the wicket keeper batters also fighting to find the place while fast bowlers Asitha Fernando and Vishwa Fernando also in good form with the ball. Experienced leg spinner Prabath Jayasuriya is ready to play his home club ground SSC. Ramesh Mendis, the off spinner and leg spinner Lasith Embuldeniya are also in line for the team.
However the ongoing NSL four day cricket tournament is good platform for the cricketers to enter the Test squad .
Meanwhile Sri Lanka Cricket is ready to give chance to outstation venues to play this Afghan series matches and they suddenly announced three ODIs shifted to Pallekele from R.Premadasa International Cricket Stadium. Three T-20 matches will be played at Rangiri Dambulla International Cricket Stadium and after laps of few years Dambulla spectators have a chance to see International matches under the renovated light system. This T-20 match series is going to be very competitive as the more experienced T-20 players like Rahmanulla Gurbaz is also in Afghan side and will be a good test for Sri Lanka T-20 team led by Wanindu Hasaranga.
Sri Lanka Cricket senior official said we are planing to give more opportunities for outstation spectators to see International matches even though the last all Zimbabwe matches were played in Colombo. We are confident more crowd will come to see matches at Pallekele and Dambulla, said Senior official of SLC.
Dhammika Ratnaweera