Sri Lanka has bolstered its squad for the upcoming second Test against India in Colombo by drafting in batter Kamil Mishara and all-rounder Sahan Arachchige. The hosts face a significant personnel crisis, as Kusal Mendis and Dinesh Chandimal are confirmed to miss the fixture, while Pathum Nissanka remains a major doubt for the match scheduled to begin on August 23.
Head coach Gary Kirsten confirmed the severity of the injury concerns following India’s 165-run victory in the opening Test at Galle. Kirsten noted that Mendis is suffering from a “proper hamstring injury” that will keep him out of action for an extended period. The issue, which originated during the Lanka Premier League, has led to Niroshan Dickwella being called up as his replacement. Meanwhile, Chandimal was ruled out after sustaining an injury on the fourth day of the first Test; he is currently observing a mandatory seven-day stand-down period under concussion protocols, with Pasindu Sooriyabandara already named as his replacement.
The new additions bring notable form to the squad. Sahan Arachchige, who is yet to earn a Test cap, was a standout performer during the unofficial Tests between the two ‘A’ sides, where he led the scoring charts for Lanka A and produced a resilient knock at number five. Kamil Mishara has also enjoyed a productive run, showcasing his talent during his debut season in the Lanka Premier League. He further solidified his selection by smashing a 145-run innings off just 72 balls in the Major Clubs T20 tournament on the very day his Test call-up was announced. The report also notes that with concussion protocols necessitating a minimum seven-day stand-down time, chandimal was ruled out following an injury on Day 4.
