Sri Lanka’s star leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga has surprised fans with his return to Test cricket after announcing his retirement from the format just last August. This unexpected move comes as Sri Lanka named their 17-man squad for the upcoming two-match Test series against Bangladesh, scheduled for March 22nd to April 3rd.
Hasaranga’s Retirement and Return
Hasaranga’s decision to step away from Tests in 2023 aimed to extend his career in white-ball formats. This focus on limited-overs cricket coincided with his appointment as Sri Lanka’s T20 captain, a role crucial in the lead-up to the T20 World Cup later this year.
However, Hasaranga’s return to the Test arena comes with a complication for his Indian Premier League (IPL) commitments. Sunrisers Hyderabad, who acquired him for his base price of INR 1.5 crore at the IPL auction, maybe without his services for the initial stages of the season.
Should the second Test against Bangladesh stretch to a full five days, Hasaranga would miss Sunrisers Hyderabad’s first three IPL matches scheduled for March 23rd, 27th, and 31st. His availability for their fourth game on April 5th, the final match of the IPL’s first phase, also remains uncertain.
Squad Changes and Series Schedule
Hasaranga’s inclusion is one of two changes Sri Lanka made to their squad compared to the team that faced Afghanistan in the recent one-off Test. Nishan Peiris, another off-spinner, joins Hasaranga in the squad, while Asitha Fernando and Milan Priyanth Rathnayake miss out on selection.
The first Test against Bangladesh commences on March 22nd in Sylhet, followed by the second Test starting on March 30th in Chattogram.
Sri Lanka Test squad for Bangladesh Series:
Dhananjaya De Silva, Kusal Mendis,Dimuth Karunaratne, Nishan Madushka, Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Kamindu Mendis, Lahiru Udara, Wanindu Hasaranga, Prabath Jayasuriya, Ramesh Mendis, Nishan Peiris, Kasun Rajitha, Vishwa Fernando, Lahiru Kumara, Chamika Gunasekara
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