Axed former captain Dinesh Chandimal has returned to Sri Lanka's Test squad, after being named in their preliminary 22-man squad for the two-Test home series against New Zealand that begins on 14 August.
Chandimal was dropped for Sri Lanka's historic tour of South Africa, where they registered their first-ever Test series win, in February this year. In Chandimal's absence, Sri Lanka famously swept, and shocked, the home team 2-0.
The wicket-keeper batsman now returns on the back of 223 runs at 55.75 in five innings at the Premier Limited Over Tournament, Sri Lanka's top domestic one-day competition.
However, Dimuth Karunaratne, the man who led them during the South Africa series, as well as during the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2019, will hold on to the captaincy and usher the team into the World Test Championship era.Chandimal apart, spinners Akila Dananjaya and Dilruwan Perera were also recalled, alongside fast bowler Lahiru Kumara and all-rounder Danushka Gunathilaka.
Niroshan Dickwella, who was left out for both the World Cup and the ODI series against Bangladesh, was also named in the 22-man squad that will later be pruned to 15. Batting all-rounder Shehan Jayasuriya, who is uncapped at the Test level, was also brought in.
---ICC
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