Sri Lanka’s Pathum Nissanka. (AP/PTI)
Nissanka was included in the original 15-member squad on the condition that he would travel only after receiving medical clearance. The 27-year-old sustained the injury during Sri Lanka’s white-ball tour of England in September, forcing him to miss the subsequent T20I series against Pakistan. Because of a wrist injury, he had missed Sri Lanka’s home Test series against India in August.
However, Sri Lanka Cricket confirmed that the opener had not recovered sufficiently to take part in the series. 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 have suffered a setback ahead of their two-Test series against Pakistan, with opener Pathum Nissanka ruled out after failing to recover from a left hamstring injury. He was later named in the squad for the ongoing ODI tri-series as a conditional selection but was ruled out after failing to prove his fitness. The latest injury setback also delays Nissanka’s return to Test cricket. Sri Lanka have named Lahiru Udara as Nissanka’s replacement for the two-Test assignment. Udara is already in Pakistan with the one-day squad, having initially joined the group as Nissanka’s replacement for the tri-series. The squad also includes experienced campaigners Dinesh Chandimal, Dhananjaya de Silva and Kamindu Mendis.
Kusal Mendis will captain Sri Lanka after being appointed skipper earlier this month.