Sri Lanka’s Test captain, Dimuth Karunaratne, is doubtful for the first Test against Pakistan due to a hamstring injury. He will undergo fitness tests in Colombo over the next 48 hours, and if he is unfit, he will not travel to Galle for the match, which begins on July 16.
If Karunaratne is unavailable, the team will be led by vice-captain Dhananjaya de Silva. Lahiru Kumara is also likely to miss the first Test due to a side-strain injury.
“In the event of Dimuth’s unavailability, the team will be led by the 31-year-old all-rounder, Dhananjaya de Silva, who is already the vice-captain,” the source, close to the SLC, told Sri Lanka Daily Mirror on Thursday morning.
The selectors have almost finalized the squad, but they are waiting for Karunaratne’s fitness reports before making a final decision. The team for the second Test, which will be played in Colombo from July 24-28, will be finalized on the third day of the first Test.
“They have selected the squad for the first Test only. The team for the second Test (to be played in Colombo (July 24-28) will be finalized on the third day of the first Test,” the source further added.
