Oshada Fernando Included in Sri Lanka's Test Squad Against New Zealand

Sri Lanka has announced a 16-member squad for the two-match Test series against New Zealand at home this month. Top-order batter Oshada Fernando, who has been out of the squad for 18 months, has been recalled. Nishan Madushka, Nisala Tharaka, and Kasun Rajitha have been dropped.

Sri Lanka recently played a Test series against England. Nishan Madushka, fast-bowling all-rounder Nisala Tharaka, and pace bowler Kasun Rajitha, who were part of the England tour, have been excluded from the squad.

Before being dropped in the third Test against England, Madushka had scored 4, 0, 7, and 13 runs in the first two Tests. Oshada Fernando has been included in the squad in his place. The 32-year-old Fernando has played 21 Tests. Neither Tharaka nor Rajitha featured in the England series.

Apart from these three, the remaining 15 members of the squad from the England series will also be part of the squad for the Tests against New Zealand at home. The regular Test team members, including captain Dhananjaya de Silva, Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal, Dimuth Karunaratne, Pathum Nissanka, and Milan Rathnayake, will all be present.

Sri Lanka's Test Squad:

Dhananjaya de Silva (captain), Dimuth Karunaratne, Pathum Nissanka, Kushal Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal, Kamindu Mendis, Sadira Samarawickrama, Oshada Fernando, Asitha Fernando, Vishva Fernando, Lahiru Kumara, Prabath Jayasuriya, Ramesh Mendis, Jeffrey Vandersay, Milan Rathnayake.

The first Test match between Sri Lanka and New Zealand will start on September 18.