India’s High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Santosh Jha, hosted the Indian and Sri Lankan Test squads at India House in Colombo on Thursday night, two days before the sides meet in the second and final Test at the SSC.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India described the gathering as “a memorable evening in Colombo” in a post on X. Jha said he was “happy to host the Indian and Sri Lankan Men’s Cricket Teams during the ongoing ICC World Test Championship matches in Sri Lanka”, adding that “cricket continues to strengthen the enduring ties between India and Sri Lanka”.
The second Test begins on Sunday and runs to August 27. India lead the two-match series 1-0 after winning the opening Test in Galle by 165 runs, where left-arm spinner Manav Suthar took ten wickets in the match.
Sri Lanka’s selection problems
Sri Lanka go into the match without three first-choice batters. ESPNcricinfo reported that Kusal Mendis and Dinesh Chandimal are out and Pathum Nissanka is unlikely to be fit.
Mendis and Nissanka both missed the Galle Test — Mendis with a hamstring injury, Nissanka still recovering from wrist surgery he underwent in June. Nissanka is understood to be closer to match fitness than Mendis but was still experiencing discomfort while batting.
Chandimal was withdrawn under concussion protocols on day four in Galle and cannot return within the mandatory stand-down period.
Batter Kamil Mishara and all-rounder Sahan Arachchige, both uncapped in Tests, have been added to the squad, ThePapare reported, with head coach Gary Kirsten confirming the absences. Arachchige has captained Sri Lanka A in recent series, while Mishara made an unbeaten 108 off 55 balls for Jaffna Kings in this year’s Lanka Premier League.
Sri Lanka need a win at the SSC to draw the series.
