Nissanka returns to squad along with uncapped Manasinghe

Pathum Nissanka 

Opening batsman Pathum Nissanka was drafted into the Sri Lanka squad along with uncapped off-spinner Lakshitha Manasinghe for the second cricket Test against Pakistan beginning at the Galle International Cricket Stadium on Sunday.

Nissanka was forced to miss the first Test against Pakistan after being tested COVID positive during the second Test against Australia. He has now fully recovered from the virus and is available for selection which means that Oshada Fernando who opened the batting with captain Dimuth Karunaratne in the first Test against Pakistan will have to be omitted. 

Fernando was one of the few Lankan batsmen to score runs in the Test which Sri Lanka lost by four wickets with scores of 35 and 64.

Manasinghe comes into fill the vacancy created by spinner Maheesh Theekshana who has injured his right bowling hand during the first Test against Pakistan and has been left out of the squad. Manasinghe (22) with little first-class experience but better than Theekshana will most probably make his debut in the second Test. 

He has an impressive average of 26.38 taking 73 first-class wickets that includes six five-wicket hauls and recently took 13 wickets for Sri Lanka ‘A’ against Australia ‘A’ in the two unofficial four-day tests.  (ST)