Sri Lanka will host Pakistan in the first of three ODIs starting on Friday, at Hambantota.
Sri Lanka have recalled off-spinner Suraj Randiv to their squad for the three match ODI series against the Pakistan tourists, that begins in Hambantota on Saturday. Randiv last appeared in an ODI three years ago, and is part of a new look spin attack.
Thanks to a successful Test series against the same opponents, opening batsman Upul Tharanga has been named in the squad, and is joined by Dinesh Chandimal who wins a return on the back of a successful one-day stint with Sri Lanka A.
The leg spinner Seekkugge Prasanna will form the spin partnership with Randiv, the pair effectively replacing Sachithra Senanayake, who is omitted while he undergoes remedial work on his action, after being banned from international cricket, and Ajantha Mendis, who has been dropped.
Although Rangana Herath is in the squad, he is likely to be sparingly used, due to the heavy workload that he has had to bear in Test matches this year.
Randiv had for some time been considered a Test match bowler, rather than a limited overs exponent, despite his record of 33 wickets in ODI’s at a fraction over 30 runs apiece.
With two centuries and a fifty for Sri Lanka “A” in one day cricket, Chanimal had made a case that the selectors could not ignore, following his axing from the Test team against South Africa, which then saw him sent on the “A” tour to England.
Dhammika Prasad also earns a recall on the back of his exploits against Pakistan in the Test series, where he was the team’s leading quick bowler. Thisara Perera the alrounder who left the squad during the ODI series against South Africa, due to mental stress will also face the tourists.
After suffering a rare home defeat to South Africa in their ODI series, Sri Lanka will be anxious to get back to one-day winning ways, and a dispirited Pakistan side seem unlikely to stop them.