Cricket

Thilan Samaraweera dropped for Pakistan tests

Lanka has dropped experienced batsman Thilan Samaraweera for test series against Pakistan.

21 September,2011 07:31 pm

Samaraweera, a 68-test veteran, was also overlooked for the third test against Australia which ended Tuesday after scoring just 86 runs in four innings of the previous two matches.However, the batsman, who turns 35 Thursday, maintains a healthy 52-run average with 4683 runs with 12 centuries and 27 half-centuries.The selectors are persisting with young batsman Lahiru Thirimannen, who played as an opening batsman in the third Australia test.Sri Lanka plays Pakistan in three test matches starting Oct. 18 in the United Arab Emirates.The 16-man squad announced Wednesday includes uncapped batsman Dinesh Chandimal, wicketkeeper batsman Kaushal Silva and seam bowler Nuwan Pradeep.The squad includes nine specialist batsmen, two of them wicketkeeping batsmen. There are also five seam bowlers and two spinners.Sri Lanka squad: Tillakaratne Dilshan (captain), Angelo Mathews, Tharanga Paranavitana, Lahiru Thirimanne, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Prasanna Jayawardene, Dinesh Chandimal, Rangana Herath, Suraj Randiv, Chanaka Welegedara, Suranga Lakmal, Shaminda Eranga, Dhammika Prasad, Nuwan Pradeep, Kaushal Silva.