COLOMBO: Sri Lanka’s cricket selectors on Thursday named rookie fast bowler Vikum Sanjaya Bandara in a 15-member squad for their three-Test series against South Africa later this month.

The uncapped 24-year-old Bandara is one of four pacemen in the squad led by Angelo Mathews and his deputy Dinseh Chandimal.

Both Mathews and Chandimal missed Sri Lanka’s recent tour of Zimbabwe due to injuries, but they have now been declared fit to play in South Africa. In addition to the three Tests, Sri Lanka will also play five One-day Internationals and three Twenty20 Internationals against the Proteas.

Earlier this month, Sri Lanka secured the services of legendary Pakistani paceman Wasim Akram to mentor local fast bowlers in preparation for the South African tour.

Meanwhile, former wicketkeeper-batsman Ranjit Fernando has been appointed manager of the Sri Lanka team for the tours of South Africa and Australia.

Fernando, 72, will replace Charith Senanayake, who held the position for most of this year.

Fernando has served in that capacity before, and has a reputation for being one of the most knowledgeable and even-handed figures in Sri Lanka cricket.

Fernando’s appointment is one of three changes to Sri Lanka’s support staff. Neither long-time physiotherapist Steve Mount, nor fielding coach Nick Pothas, will be with the Test side in South Africa. Mount will end his tenure with the team on Dec 15, while Pothas has been temporarily reassigned to the Sri Lanka Under-19 squad as it prepares for the Youth Asia Cup at home.

Sri Lanka Cricket has appointed Ajantha Wattegama in place of Mount, and Manoj Abeywickrama as fielding coach.

Squad: Angelo Mathews (captain), Dinesh Chandimal (vice captain), Dimuth Karunaratne, Kaushal Silva, Kusal Perera, Dhananjaya de Silva, Kusal Mendis,

Upul Tharanga, Dushmantha Chameera, Suranga Lakmal, Lahiru Kumara,

Nuwan Pradeep, Vikum Sanjaya Bandara, Rangana Herath, Dilruwan Perera.

Published in Dawn, December 9th, 2016