New Delhi, 27 October (H.S.): Sri Lankan opening batter Pathum Nissanka has been ruled out of the upcoming two-match Test series against Pakistan after failing to recover fully from a left hamstring injury. Nissanka had been named in the initial 15-member squad on the condition that he would travel only after receiving medical clearance. However, a statement from Sri Lanka Cricket confirmed that he would not be fit in time for the start of the series.

Nissanka sustained the injury during Sri Lanka’s white-ball tour of England in September, which also forced him to miss the T20 series against Pakistan. He was subsequently included as a conditional selection in Sri Lanka’s squad for the ongoing ODI tri-series but was ruled out after failing to pass the required fitness test.

The latest setback has further delayed his return to Test cricket. He had earlier missed Sri Lanka’s home series against India in August because of a wrist injury.

Opening batter Lahiru Udara has been named as Nissanka’s replacement in the Test squad. Udara is already in Pakistan with Sri Lanka’s ODI team and was also selected to replace Nissanka in the tri-series squad. He has played five Test matches and was part of Sri Lanka’s previous two Test series against the West Indies and India. During the series against the West Indies, he scored 188 runs in Antigua.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar