Nissanka ruled out of Pakistan Tests, Lahiru Udara named replacement

Sri Lankan opener Pathum Nissanka has been ruled out of the upcoming two-match Test series in Pakistan, having failed to recover from a left hamstring injury. Nissanka was named in the original 15-man squad but was due to travel only if declared medically fit, but a statement from Sri Lanka Cricket confirmed that he has failed to recover in time for the series.

During Sri Lanka's white-ball tour of England in September, Nissanka suffered the injury and was ruled out of the T20I matches against Pakistan. He was selected as a conditional selection for the ongoing ODI tri-series, but he was ultimately ruled out because he was not fit enough to play.

This latest setback further stalls Nissanka’s Test comeback; he also missed the home series against India in August with a wrist injury.

Fellow opener Lahiru Udara has been named Nissanka’s replacement for the Tests. Udara is already in Pakistan with the one-day squad, having been named Nissanka’s replacement for the tri-series as well. He has appeared in Sri Lanka's two most recent Test matches, against India and West Indies, respectively, scoring 188 against India in Antigua. He has played in five Test matches.

In two Tests that are part of the current World Test Championship cycle, Sri Lanka and Pakistan will compete against one another in Rawalpindi (November 9-13) and Lahore (November 17-21). Sri Lanka's debut in the format under new captain Kusal Mendis will be this 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.