Kusal Mendis Takes Sri Lanka Test Captaincy Against Pakistan

Sri Lanka has named Kusal Mendis as its Test captain for the first time ahead of the ICC World Test Championship away series against Pakistan, with a 15-member squad announced Tuesday by the team for the two-match contest.

According to rediff.com, Mendis, who already leads Sri Lanka in one-day internationals and Twenty20 internationals, replaces Dhananjaya de Silva as Test captain. De Silva remains part of the squad after stepping down from the leadership role.

According to rediff.com, the 35-year-old de Silva left the captaincy position saying he wanted to transfer leadership responsibility to younger players.

"Pass the mantle to the next generation," said Dhananjaya de Silva.

Rediff.com reported that batter Pathum Nissanka was included in the squad while awaiting a return to full fitness after a hamstring injury suffered during an ODI series against England last month.

The squad will travel to Pakistan for two Tests beginning November 9, with matches scheduled in Rawalpindi and Lahore as part of the ongoing World Test Championship cycle, according to rediff.com.

Sri Lanka is seventh in the World Test Championship points table with a points percentage of 33.33, while Pakistan is at the bottom with a points percentage of 4.63, according to rediff.com.

The 15 players selected are Kusal Mendis, Pathum Nissanka, Pasindu Sooriyabandara, Dinesh Chandimal, Kamindu Mendis, Sonal Dinusha, Dhananjaya De Silva, Anjala Bandara, Keshara Nuwantha, Prabath Jayasuriya, Milan Rathnayaka, Lahiru Kumara, Asitha Fernando, Dilshan Madushanka and Eshan Malinga.