SL pick rookie paceman for India series

Sri Lanka's selectors on Friday named uncapped fast bowler Vishwa Fernando in a 16-man squad for the three-Test series against India starting next week, the cricket board announced.

Fernando, 23, who has taken 98 wickets in 34 first-class matches, dismissed India's Rohit Sharma and Wriddhiman Saha while playing for the Sri Lanka Board President's XI in the ongoing tour match in Colombo.

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Opening batsman Kusal Perera, a veteran of 48 one-day internationals and 20 Twenty20 matches, was the other player without Test experience to be picked in the squad.

Perera replaces middle-order batsman Kithuruwan Vithanage and Fernando comes in for seamer Suranga Lakmal from the squad that lost to Pakistan 2-1 in the recent Test series at home.

SQUAD
Angelo Mathews (capt), Lahiru Thirimanne, Kaushal Silva, Dimuth Karunaratne, Kumar Sangakkara, Dinesh Chandimal, Upul Tharanga, Jehan Mubarak, Kusal Perera, Rangana Herath, Dilruwan Perera, Tharindu Kaushal, Nuwan Pradeep, Dhammika Prasad, Vishwa Fernando, Dushmantha Chameera (subject to fitness).