Sri Lankan opener Pathum Nissanka has been ruled out of the upcoming two-match Test series in Pakistan, having failed to recover from a left hamstring injury. Nissanka was named in the original 15-man squad but was due to travel only if declared medically fit, but a statement from Sri Lanka Cricket confirmed that he has failed to recover in time for the series. Nissanka suffered the injury during Sri Lanka’s white-ball tour of England in September and was subsequently ruled out of the T20Is against Pakistan. He was named in the squad for the ongoing ODI tri-series as a conditional pick, but was eventually ruled out having failed to pass fit. This latest setback further stalls Nissanka’s Test comeback; he also missed the home series against India in August with a wrist injury. Fellow opener Lahiru Udara has been named Nissanka’s replacement for the Tests. Udara is already in Pakistan with the one-day squad, having been named Nissanka’s replacement for the tri-series as well. He has played five Tests and featured in Sri Lanka’s two most recent assignments in the format – against West Indies and India, scoring 188 against the former in Antigua. Sri Lanka’s updated squad for Pakistan Tests: Kusal Mendis (captain), Pasindu Sooriyabandara, Dinesh Chandimal, Kamindu Mendis, Sonal Dinusha, Dhananjaya de Silva, Anjala Bandara, Keshara Nuwantha, Prabath Jayasuriya, Milan Rathnayake, Lahiru Kumara, Asitha Fernando, Dilshan Madushanka, Eshan Malinga, Lahiru Udara. Sri Lanka and Pakistan will face off in two Tests that are part of the current World Test Championship cycle in Rawalpindi (November 9-13) and Lahore (November 17-21). The series will mark Sri Lanka’s first in the format under new captain Kusal Mendis.
