A preliminary squad of 20 players will be engaging in training at a higher altitude in Kandy for the next couple of days in order to get acclimatized to English conditions before the tour to United Kingdom next month.
According to reliable sources, the national selectors have named this 20-member squad for residential training in Kandy and will bring down the squad to 15 players for the three-match series by 27th of April and will be announced on approval from the Hon. Minister of Sports, Dayasiri Jayasekara.
As expected, Tharanga Paranavithana and Kaushal Silva has been recalled into the 20-man squad alongside uncapped Dasun Shanaka, Dhananjaya De Silva, and Kasun Rajitha.
Fast-bowlers, Dhammika Prasad and Shaminda Eranga also returned after recovering from their respective injury problems. The 20-member squad will also play a two-day practice game on 23rd and 24th of April at Pallekelle International Cricket Stadium if the weather remains conducive for cricket.
Left-handed batting duo, Udara Jayasundara and Kithruwan Vithanage have been dropped from the squad which played the last Test series against New Zealand in December, 2015 while the prolific run-getter Roshane Silva has been overlooked once again.
The Provisional Squad – Angelo Mathews (Captain), Dinesh Chandimal (Vice-Captain), Dimuth Karunarathne, Kaushal Silva, Kusal Mendis, Tharanga Paranavithana, Dhananjaya De Silva, Milinda Siriwardena, Dasun Shanaka, Niroshan Dickwella, Rangana Herath, Jefferey Vandersay, Dilruwan Perera, Dhammika Prasad, Nuwan Pradeep, Dushmantha Chameera, Kasun Rajitha, Suranga Lakmal, Shaminda Eranga, Vishwa Fernando.
