Dimuth Karunaratne, Sri Lanka’s Test captain, is facing doubts regarding his participation in the first Test against Pakistan due to a hamstring injury. Over the next 48 hours, he will undergo fitness tests in Colombo to determine his readiness. If deemed unfit, he will not join the team in Galle for the match scheduled to begin on July 16.

In the event that Karunaratne is unavailable, vice-captain Dhananjaya de Silva will step in as the team’s leader. Additionally, Lahiru Kumara is likely to miss the first Test due to a side-strain injury.

According to a source close to the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) board, “If Dimuth is unable to play, 31-year-old all-rounder Dhananjaya de Silva, who is already the vice-captain, will take charge.” This statement was shared with the Sri Lanka Daily Mirror on Thursday morning.

While the selectors have nearly finalized the squad, their decision is pending the fitness reports of Karunaratne. The composition of the team for the second Test, scheduled to take place in Colombo from July 24-28, will be determined on the third day of the first Test.

“The squad for the first Test has been chosen. The team for the second Test in Colombo from July 24-28 will be finalized on the third day of the first Test,” the source further explained.

A few days ago, Ireland played a test match against Bangladesh. This time the Irish have started a two-match Test series against Sri Lanka. The hosts Sri Lanka got a huge collection on the first day of the first match. After winning the toss and batting at the end of the first day, the Lankans accumulated 386 runs for 4 wickets. Lankan captain Dimuth Karunaratne and Kushal Mendis made good use of the flat wicket in Sri Lanka’s goal and the opponent’s edgeless bowling. Despite losing the first wicket for 64 runs, Sri Lanka’s second wicket stand stood at 281 runs, the highest stand for any wicket at this ground. Earlier, the biggest pair in this field was two batsmen from Bangladesh Mohammad Ashraful and Mushfiqur Rahim.

In 2013, these two batsmen made a partnership of 267 runs. Now Karunaratne and Mendis broke it.Meanwhile, Lankan captain Karunaratne has written another record. As the second batsman, he made a record of fifty innings against 10 countries in Tests. At the beginning of this month, Bangladesh’s Mushfiqur set the record against Ireland. Karunaratne made a record but could not make two hundred. He was cut by Adair for 179 runs. Meanwhile, Kushal Mendis was also lbw after scoring 140 runs. At the end of the day, Chandimal remained unbeaten on 18 and Prabhath Jayasuriya on 12 runs.

Dimuth Karunaratne wants to step down as the captain of the team after the Test against Ireland to be held next month. Karunaratne wants to see someone new as captain of the Lankan Test team. So this 34-year-old cricketer wants to step down from the responsibility. But so far the Lankan electorate has not accepted his resignation. Sri Lanka will play a Test against Ireland at home in April. Then the new cycle of the Test Championship will begin. The 34-year-old opener and captain Karunaratne wants someone new to take charge in the new cycle after that Test. After the second Test against New Zealand, Karunaratne said, ‘I have spoken to the selectors about my resignation. The next Test Championship cycle is two years away.

I think a new captain should be given full cycle responsibility. I have spoken to the selectors about this, but they have not responded yet. After the next series, I want to hand over the responsibility to the new captain. Sri Lanka has finished all the matches of the current cycle of the Test Championship. Under the leadership of Karunaratna, the Lankans have played quite well this season. They are fifth with 44.44 percent points. Karunaratne’s journey as Sri Lanka’s Test captain began in 2019. The Sri Lankans beat South Africa 2-0 in the first series under his leadership. His team has led 26 Tests with ten wins and six draws. On average, they are the third team after England and Australia to win a Test series on South African soil.