Left-arm spinner Dunith Wellalage and left-arm fast bowler Vishwa Fernando have been added to the side, as confirmed by reporter @DanuskaAravinda. This match is part of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2025–27 cycle.
Wellalage and Fernando Join the Squad
Dunith Wellalage has featured in just one Test so far — making his debut against Pakistan — but went wicketless in that match. Despite this, Sri Lanka has shown faith in the young spinner and given him another chance to prove himself at the highest level.
Meanwhile, veteran seamer Vishwa Fernando brings valuable experience to the attack. The left-arm quick has played 27 Tests and claimed 79 wickets so far. His inclusion strengthens Sri Lanka’s pace options, especially with the Colombo pitch expected to offer some early help to the seamers.
Angelo Mathews Retires From Test Cricket
This Test will also mark the first match for Sri Lanka since veteran all-rounder Angelo Mathews announced his retirement from Test cricket. The first Test in Galle, which ended in a draw on June 21 due to rain interruptions, was Mathews’ final outing in the format.
Karnataka Increases Compensation for Bengaluru Stampede Victims’ Families to ₹25 Lakh
BCB Defends Its Decision
Despite the controversy, BCB president Aminul Islam downplayed any tension within the team. In an interview on June 21, he said, “Coming to Shanto’s point, his captaincy was not taken away. The decision was made with the agreement of the board. We wanted a new approach with three different captains across formats, as we have a very packed schedule coming up.”
Shanto’s Record as Bangladesh Captain
So far, Najmul Hossain Shanto has captained Bangladesh in 13 Test matches, scoring 879 runs. Under his leadership, the team has won four Tests, lost eight, and drawn one — the recent match against Sri Lanka. In ODIs, he has led the team in 13 matches, registering four wins and nine losses.
