Pakistan national cricket team will face a stiff competition when they face the Sri Lanka Cricket Board President’s XI in a three-day warm-up encounter scheduled to start on 11th June at Colts Cricket Grounds.
Middle-order batsman Dinesh Chandimal has been appointed as the captain of the team which comprises many known names including Upul Tharanga and Jehan Mubarak. Both experienced left-handers will get a solid chance to make a promising impression to the selectors in order to claim back their places in the Sri Lanka team for the first Test which starts on 17th June at Galle. The 34-year old Mubarak was one of the most consistent run-getters for his domestic team, NCC in the last two premier seasons. Kaushal Silva and Dimuth Karunarathne will reunite once again to open the batting and get valuable game time before the three-match series while Tharanga will have to put up a big score if he wants to make any part in the upcoming series.
Former Trinitian, Niroshan Dickwella will don the gloves behind the wickets while the selectors have given deserving opportunities to Sri Lanka Air Force seamer Kasun Rajitha and Tamil Union right-arm fast-bowler Nisala Tharaka to make up the seam attack with left-arm speedster Vishwa Fernando. The young SSC leg-spinner Jeffrey Vandersey will fight out for a place in the team with SLC Premier League’s top wickets-taker Malinda Pushpakumara who has also been named in the squad.
Sri Lanka Board President’s XI – Kaushal Silva, Dimuth Karunaratne, Upul Tharanga, Jehan Mubarak, Dinesh Chandimal (Captain), Milinda Siriwardene, Niroshan Dickwella, Vishwa Fernando, Nisala Tharaka, Kasun Rajitha, Jeffrey Vandersay Dhananjaya de Silva, Malinda Pushpakumara, Binura Fernando.
