Mid-Wicket
Sri Lanka ‘A’ will start the unofficial series (2 tests and 3 ODIs) against Pakistan ‘A’ without talented all-rounder Dananajaya Lakshan who has been ruled out with a knee injury which may require arthroscopy surgery.
Lakshan, 23, has been in the radar of the national selectors ever since he caught the eye during the inaugural Lanka Premier League last year where he displayed his latent all-round talent as a left-hand bat and right-arm medium-fast bowler by claiming 13 wickets and scoring 77 runs and, helping Galle Gladiators enter the final. He won the Emerging Player of the Tournament award.
“Lakshan has a knee injury and he might have to go through arthroscopy surgery. It will take about a month or a month and a half. Since he is young, we think he has a great future so we thought we better leave him out for this series,” said Sri Lanka ‘A’ team coach Rumesh Ratnayake.
Lakshan has been replaced in the 22-member squad by 24-year-old Lahiru Samarakoon, a similar all-rounder from BRC.
Another player who has to prove his fitness before the commencement of the series against Pakistan A is 26-year-old right-arm fast bowler Mohamed Shiraz also from BRC.